Overview

• Negotiations for a 145-pound clash set for August 16 in Riyadh fell apart in early June when Lopez declined to sign the contract after initial agreement on catchweight terms.
• Lopez’s co-manager attributed his withdrawal to confidential personal reasons and a need for full mental and physical readiness, with plans to return later this year.
• Haney maintains he signed his side of the deal and publicly branded Lopez a “duck” for stalling, following a feud that also involved Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh.
• Both fighters earned wins on May 2 in Times Square—Haney over Jose Ramirez and Lopez against Arnold Barboza Jr.—but are now exploring alternative opponents.
• The cancellation forces Riyadh Season promoters to revise their boxing lineup and leaves both Haney and Lopez charting separate paths toward high-profile matchups.