A title has been added to the upcoming main event bout between Devin Haney and Zaur Abdullaev on DAZN.
The WBC announced that an interim lightweight title will be on the line when the two meet at Madison Square Garden on September 13. The fight will also serve as a final eliminator where the winner will become the mandatory challenger to the WBC title currently being held by Vasiliy Lomachenko, who holds the WBA and WBO.
Haney signed with Matchroom Boxing earlier this year in the hopes of securing a world title fight in the coming months. After it was revealed that Lomachenko and Luke Campbell would be ordered to fight for the then-vacant WBC title on August 31, Haney was ordered to face Abdullaev in a title eliminator. Haney is unbeaten as a pro and has already fought twice in 2019, starting with a decision win over Xolisani Ndongeni in January and then a seventh-round knockout win over Antonio Moran in May in Haney's Matchroom debut.
The 25-year-old Abdullaev has won all 11 of his pro bouts since making his debut in 2017, capturing the WBO Youth lightweight title. Abdullaev has not fought since February when he stopped Humberto Martinez in Russia.
Also set for the September 13 card, taking place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, is a WBO Female featherweight title bout between Heather Hardy and Amanda Serrano. Set for the undercard is a heavyweight fight between Michael Hunter and Sergey Kuzmin.
Fightful spoke to Haney and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn in a recent media conference call and articles on those interviews can be read on the exclusives section of Fightful boxing at this link.
