Fresh off his first WBC lightweight title defense, Devin Haney's next fight may be looming over the horizon in the coming months.
The WBC has officially ordered Haney to take on mandatory challenger Javier Fortuna with negotiations set to begin immediately. Both parties have until December 13 to successfully reach a deal for a fight in 2020 or else the bout will head to a purse bid.
Haney emerged as the top contender for the lightweight title when he won the interim WBC belt back in September with a stoppage win over Zaur Abdullaev. The fight also served as a final eliminator for Vasiliy Lomachenko's WBC world title but the eliminator became effectively worthless at the WBC Convention, which took place weeks later. At the convention, the sanctioning body announced Lomachenko would be elevated to Franchise Champion and Haney would be the sole WBC champion at 135 pounds.
During the WBC Convention, it was also revealed that Javier Fortuna and Jesus Cuellar would compete in a final eliminator for Haney's new title on November 2 on a PBC on FS1 card. Fortuna, who missed out on an IBF lightweight title fight against Robert Easter Jr. in 2018 due to Fortuna missing weight and their fight then becoming a non-title bout, beat Cuellar by second-round TKO.
As for Haney, he successfully defended his WBC world title on the KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 card that took place on November 9. Haney would go on to defeat Alfredo Santiago by unanimous decision on November 9.
