Tim Bradley Explains Teofimo Lopez’s “Power Play” vs. Devin Haney

Tim Bradley says Teofimo Lopez’s decision to pull out of the negotiations with Devin Haney for August 16th is a “power play.” He says Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs) noted the $20 million that Ryan Garcia reportedly got for his fight against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero on May 2nd, and he wasn’t going to agree to a measly $11 million to fight Haney on August 16th.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Lopez’s Power Play Explained

Tim says Teofimo feels that he’s done more during his career than Kingry, capturing two division world titles, beating Vasily Lomachenko, and Josh Taylor. So, Lopez wants what’s coming to him, which is the same “astronomical” money that he would have gotten for a fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis for an easier fight against Haney.

If Garcia is getting $20 million to fight Rolly, he wants similar dough to fight Haney. So, Teofimo is holding out for that amount or more for the Devin clash.

“Who in the hell is scared of Devin Haney after that last performance? The man is scared to get hit. The man doesn’t want to get touched,” said Tim Bradley on social media about Teofimo Lopez choosing not to fight Devin Haney. “That’s easy work.”

Lopez is definitely not afraid of Haney. He knows he has nothing to fear fighting a light puncher, who Bradley feels has PTSD from his loss to Ryan Garcia last year. But as Tim says, it’s a power play on Teofimo’s part. He’s not going to fight Haney unless he gets the same kind of dought that he would have gotten by fighting Jaron Ennis.

Why Teofimo Won’t Fight Haney

“Teofimo Lopez, can you call it a duck? You can call it a duck. This could be a power play. Here’s why. Teofimo Lopez wanted to fight Boots. Why did he want to fight Boots? Because there was more money on the table. That’s why. Maybe he thought he could beat him. Maybe not,” said Tim.

No, it’s not a duck that Teofimo is doing by choosing not to fight Haney. He wants the same amount of money that he was going to get for fighting Ennis. He is also likely not happy that Ryan Garcia got $20 million for a fight against Rolly Romero last May. According to Bradley, Lopez would have received $11 million to fight Haney.

“I thought he had a good chance. However, Boots didn’t take the bait. He didn’t want the fight. Boots is going to 154. That’s my opinion. Or Boots may even want Brian Norman Jr. I think that came out of his mouth. He wants Brian Norman Jr. goes to Japan and knocks that guy [Jin Sasaki] out because he better knock that guy out. That’s easy work,” said Bradley.

Ennis doesn’t want to fight Teofimo because it’s not one that does anything for his career. He wants belts, and he knows the Teo fight would just be for money to help out the needy, money-hungry Brooklyn native. He’s cashing out, in other words. It’s not sporting, and Ennis isn’t at the stage of his career where he’s become greedy and got gold fever like Tofimo.

Ennis Fight Money vs. Haney

“So, he [Lopez] was going to get paid more money. He was going to get a shot at the Ring belt. He was willing to go up to 147 for that. Absolutely. But it was definitely for more money. I heard it was astronomical money,” said Tim about the money Lopez would have got if he had fought Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

When Boots said he didn’t want to fight Teofimo, that left him in a position where he was stuck with Haney. He’s not a fighter that brings in PPV buys, and he was coming off a terrible performance against Jose Ramorez on May 2nd. Why would Turki want to pay Teofimo the same amount of money fighting Haney as what he would have gotten fighting Boots Ennis?

“So, then Turki says, ‘No, uh ah. I want you to fight Haney. That’s what I want you to face, but I’m going to pay you less money. I’m going to pay you 11 [million].’ I don’t know. I heard it was $11 million for Haney. ‘Nah, uh ah, that’s not enough’ for Teofimo Lopez,” said Bradley.

Teofimo is comparing himself to what Ryan got, and wants similar pay based on having done more. Of the fighters that Lopez has beaten, only one of them was popular: Vasily Lomachenko. Lopez has looked poor in fights against Arnold Barboza Jr, Sandor Martin, Steve Claggett, George Kambosos Jr, and Jamaine Ortiz.

Boxing’s Power Play Dynamics

“This is probably the reason why. What Teofimo Lopez has done in this game in a short period of time. Called his shot and beat Lomachenko. Called his shot and beat [Josh] Taylor. He feels he’s done a lot in the sport,” said Bradley. “Then, you take a look at Ryan Garcia. A social media darling.”

Teofimo has done more in the sport, but that’s not what attracts the casual boxing fan. They don’t follow the sport closely enough to know who has won titles. They care about entertainment, hype, communication, charisma, and looks. Ryan has got Teo beat in every one of those areas. Hence, he was paid more for his fight againt Rolly than what was offered to Teofimo for a fight against Haney.

“Millions of subscribers. Millions of subs. Millions of viewership. The guy is hot. He’s a hot commodity. He ain’t won a world championship at all. But he gets paid $20 million to face Rolly Romero. I know that was for a world championship [WBA ‘regular’ welterweight title], but he still lost. I know Ryan’s hand is hurt. Whatever excuse they want to make,” said Tim.

Turki paid Ryan Garcia all that money because he’s got a massive social media profile with 12 million Instagram followers. That’s not even counting his X followers, and his ability to create interest for his events during interviews.

Teofimo can’t do that. He doesn’t have the followers, and his Brooklynese jibberish is difficult for people from other parts of the U.S to understand or relate to. He comes across as speaking a different language. Everyone understands Ryan, and he doesn’t put on a false front of acting like a tough guy, unlike Teo.

Teofimo: More Than Ryan?

“He couldn’t pass on that bag regardless of winning that fight or not. He couldn’t pass on that, but he’s getting paid $20 million. That’s besides the point. So, Teo has done a lot more in the sport, and he feels, ‘I deserve more money than that [$11 million for Haney].’ So, he knows there’s more money on the table. He understands there’s more money. So, what he’s doing, I think, he’s standing his ground,” said Bradley.

If Teofimo is standing his ground, hoping to get the same kind of money that Ryan Garcia got to fight Rolly Romero, he may wind up with nothing. He obviously is hoping that Turki will bump up the pay, but he may not. The Teofimo-Haney fight isn’t one that many fans are interested in, given the way both fighters underperformed on the Times Square card on May 2nd.