Eddie Hearn expects Devin Haney to face Jorge Linares on May 15.
Speaking to IFL TV, the Matchroom promoter listed his schedule for the coming months, including Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte in March, and Billy Jones Saunders vs. Canelo Alvarez on May 8.
The following weekend he believes that WBC lightweight champion Haney will fight, likely against former WBC and WBA belt holder Linares.
“May 15 could be Devin Haney, potentially against Jorge Linares,” he said.
However there is a fighter who could take precedence over Linares, Ukrainian former unified lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko.
Lomachenko has not fought since losing his belts to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020, and has been mooted as an opponent for the 22-year-old America.
“It took a little bit of a u-turn because Lomachenko popped up and Bill Haney reached out and said make the Lomachenko fight,” Hearn explained.
“I’m happy to do that fight, and I think it’s a fantastic fight, and Devin is more than happy to fight Lomachenko.
“So if we can agree terms that would probably be a preferred fight to Linares, but if we can’t then Linares is pretty much agreed and ready to go. I do think it will be.”
Haney’s mandatory WBC challenger is Ryan Garcia, but the emerging lightweight contender appears set to face Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, despite previously announcing a bout of some form with Manny Pacquiao. Davis, meanwhile, is in the sights of Lopez after he takes on George Kambosos Jr.