Hans Themistode

After his first WBO lightweight title defense at the weekend, who should Abdullah Mason face next? Make your pick.

After his first WBO lightweight title defense at the weekend, who should Abdullah Mason face next? Make your pick.

Dmitry Bivol has been ordered by the WBO to begin negotiations with Callum Smith for a mandatory title fight

As first reported by The Ring, Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) is negotiating a welterweight matchup against Romero, the division's WBA beltholder.

After scoring a lopsided victory on Saturday night against Christopher Guerrero in Cleveland, the highly ranked welterweight contender looked directly into the camera and called out reigning WBO beltholder Devin Haney.

Since Spence's amateur days, Derrick James had led his corner. But following his stoppage defeat to Terence Crawford in July 2023, the pair unceremoniously split.

However, after watching what transpired between George Kambosos and Devin Haney, who beat the Australian to win all of the belts in June 2022, Stevenson says it's no longer a priority.

The WBC 154-pound beltholder is scheduled to take on mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj this coming fall on DAZN, taking him out of the picture for a title-unification fight against WBA, WBO champ Jaron Ennis for now.

Following his upset win over Ryan Garcia in May of last year, Romero's name was linked to the likes of Devin Haney, Conor Benn and Garcia for a rematch.

The WBO last week ordered Haney, its welterweight champion, to open negotiations with No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Davis for a title defense.