This afternoon, Sampson Lewkowicz, promoter of two-time world champion and WBC #2 lightweight contender Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs), is submitting a formal request to the WBC for them to order negotiations to begin immediately for Fortuna to face current WBC Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (25-0, 15 KOs).
In his request, Lewkowicz cites the extended series of cancelled and declined fights for his top-rated fighter:
- After fighting his way to the #1 spot in the WBC ratings last November, Fortuna was supposed to face England’s Luke Campbell in April of this year for the vacant lightweight championship after champion Haney was sidelined by shoulder injury and named a “champion in recess.” However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the fight from happening and gave Haney adequate time to recover.
- The WBC then reinstated Haney as champion and granted him a voluntary defense. They further mandated that Fortuna and Campbell meet for the WBC interim lightweight championship and then face the winner of Haney’s voluntary defense immediately after. That arrangement fell through though, when Campbell’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, announced he was planning to step over #1 contender Fortuna to make a fight between Haney and #2 contender Campbell.
- With Fortuna now looking for a new opponent, representatives from Golden Boy Promotions offered him a fight against WBC #3-ranked Ryan Garcia, which Fortuna agreed to without hesitation, only to be later notified that “Kingry” didn’t want to face Fortuna.
- Lewkowicz then arranged for Fortuna to face Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs), the WBC #5 contender and a former featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight world champion for the WBC Diamond Belt in August. Unfortunately, Linares announced he had COVID-19 a couple weeks before the fight and it was also cancelled.
- Since then, Haney has gone on to successfully make his voluntary defense against former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in November and Ryan Garcia is set to face Luke Campbell in January of next year.
- Fortuna, now the WBC #2 contender after the insertion of former champ Vasyl Lomachenko into the #1 spot, was finally able to find someone to fight and looked sensational this past weekend while stopping tough Mexican Antonio Lozada Torres in six rounds.
Given these circumstances, Team Fortuna believes they are justified in requesting the WBC to grant this request for an immediate Fortuna vs. Haney fight. Fortuna has been a #1 or #2 contender for over a year while lower-rated contenders have secured fights against each other. With Lomachenko tied up looking for a rematch against Teofimo Lopez, the Fortuna vs. Haney fight is a worthy matchup between champion and available top contender.
“Through his entire career, Javier Fortuna has fought anyone willing to fight,” said Lewkowicz. “He looked sensational beating Lozada on Saturday and has been a top contender for an exceptionally long time. He deserves an immediate shot at Devin Haney’s championship. I am sure the WBC will agree that the time has come for his long-awaited title challenge.
Look Fortuna should be given a shot asap as Haney hasn’t fought anybody noteworthy. As old as he is Fortuna would give Haney issues and prob beat him. The fight would be a step up for Haney for once.
This is a h*ll of a maze for Fortuna’s crew (Fortuna). Fellow boxing fans, good luck trying to navigate Fortuna in this 135 pound maze.
Elite fighters plan to avoid Fortuna at all costs because he
has a complicated style with speed, power and movement. Fortuna also has no problems creating a f-ugly, physical fight. Other elite fighters are looking for fighters with higher marketability ($$$).
However, Fortuna has solid grounds to compel Haney to fight because Lopez may go to 140, and Loma is injured. Haney will fight Fortuna only if he is forced to fight Fortuna.
If Fortuna is unable to fight Haney, then he should look for a scrap against Davis. If the Davis fight does not occur, then Fortuna should look to fight the winner of Garcia vs. Campbell.
If Fortuna is unable to fight the Garcia/Campbell winner, then he should look for a fight against Mendy.
If a Mendy fight does not occur, then Fortuna should look for Linares. If no luck with Linares, then Fortuna should look for a fight against Commey.
Unfortunately, Fortuna’s style and minimal marketability will require wise planning and proper aggression. Subjectively, I would love to see Fortuna vs. Kambosos in a highly spirited boxing affair. Practically, I think Fortuna will more than likely fight Mendy or Linares next.
Fortuna vs. Kambosos would be a great fight, however Kambosos is IBF No1 and inline to fight for the title if Lopez moves up or vacates it, if not he would be fighting for the IBO belt until a title match comes up.
I don’t think much of Fortuna but he deserves his title shot with Haney. I would pay to see that fight as Haney to me is just a paper champion and the weakest link in the division at the moment.
Hey E-Man, Fortuna had had enough cancellation after cancellation, now you are proposing more rolling for him, so the way at end he will have to fight his own promoter.
I’ve just watched Fortuna vs Lozada and while I do believe that Fortuna deserves his shot for the WBC strap, I think that he throws too many looping shots and is definitely not in the same speed band as Haney. He also tends to drop his hands after delivering his hooks and most well schooled fighters would be looking to capitalize on that. That being said, he may be one of those fighters that fight to the level of the opponent they are facing, otherwise Haney is a young champion that is too fast, too smart, too hungry!
Fortuna vs. Haney will be made, I have no doubt. Fortuna style is tailor made for Haney to look good, impressive, but I am not saying is an easy fight. Haney didn’t look good against Gamboa because his inactivit, and his opponent was there with the solely intention to survive the 12 rounds. Fortuna will present a fight, an open war and Haney will be better this time. A very different fight.
Haney by stoppage in a good fight.
They need to stop worrying about these worthless belts. Just make good fights and don’t pay sanctioning fees to any of these bloodsuckers.
If Haney fought Fortuna then the fans would still down Haney and why he shouldnt get a fight with another top fighter. Lomo ducked Haney and gave him the WBC belt and now you’ll call Haney a paper champ. The big names wont fight Haney and you’ll will down whoever Haney fights. Haney will never get a fair shake simple as that.
Haney needs to step up FACT! and until that happens he will just be a paper champion chump.
This article illustrates how simple-minded the people who control boxing truly are. With the maze of bogus sanctioning bodies (all of them), it is nearly impossible to make meaningful fights. Will boxing ever grow up and throw this “sanctioning body” business model in the dumpster? I doubt it.