Devin Haney has a decision to make regarding his current title status.

The Ring confirmed that Top Rank claimed the rights to Haney’s booked defense of the WBC 140-pound title against Sandor Martin. During Tuesday’s bidding hearing, Top Rank was the only bidder to submit an amount of $2,420,000.

Of this amount, ten percent – $242,000 – will be placed in a escrow account as a winning bonus. Of the remaining $2,178,000, Haney is entitled to 70 percent ($1,524,600) as defending champion. The remaining 30 percent will go to Spaniard Martin ($653,400) as mandatory challenger.

Haney may ask the WBC for a more favorable division of the purse if he continues to fight. Section 2.16 of the WBC Regulations notes that the Board of Governors may rule on this matter.

Haney (31-1, 15 knockouts) didn’t seem ecstatic with the bidding results.

“I should have bid myself,” noted the self-promoting boxer, who is currently ranked No. 140 by Rankings .

I should have bid.. 😒 https://t.co/UdAYWJyhYk

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) June 18, 2024

Spaniard Martin, who ranks 9th out of 140, is jointly promoted by Top Rank and OPI From 82.

The fight was scheduled for May 11, but the 30-day negotiation period passed without an agreement being reached. The call came after Haney’s 12-round majority decision loss to Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KO) on April 20 in Brooklyn, Novel York.

Haney retained the title despite the setback, as Garcia weighed 3.2 pounds over the division limit.

Garcia is currently under drug testing investigation after testing positive for the banned substance Ostarine. The matter is being investigated by the Novel York State Athletic Commission and the likely result will be a change to a no contest.

This would restore Haney’s spotless record, although he remains on probation to honor his mandatory title defense. The only other option would be to vacate the title that may be on the table.

I already had all the stripes…

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) June 18, 2024

Martin (42-3, 15 KO) has not fought since signing a co-promotional contract with Top Rank earlier this year. The intention was always to wait out Haney-Garcia and then fight for the title.

“Devin Haney calls himself ‘The Dream,’ but I’m his worst nightmare,” Martin said in January. “I will be the next WBC junior welterweight world champion. Whether he wants to lose his in-ring title to me or climb up the welterweight ladder, the choice is his.

“I am excited for the next chapter in my career with OPI From 82 and Top Rank in my corner.”

Haney was The Ring and the undisputed lightweight champion before he changed weight. The 25-year-old star, who dethroned Regis Prograis on December 9 in San Francisco, California, secured a return home. Haney won every round and won the WBC 140-pound title.

It was Haney’s seventh consecutive victory over former or current title holder.

Martin will fight for his first title fight in his career.

The 30-year-old southpaw has intermediate title-level experience. His best win to date remains a ten-round decision in October 2021 over former four-division champion Mikey Garcia.

The same should have been said about his fight with Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KO) in December 2022 at Madison Square Garden in Novel York. Lopez avoided a split decision, although many observers felt Martin deserved the nod.

Last June, Lopez dethroned Josh Taylor to become a two-division in-ring champion. He still holds The Ring’s 140-pound crown and the WBO title.

Since that night, Martin has fought just two times, both at club events last year in Italy.

Top Rank plans to stage the fight at an unspecified location in the US if it continues in its current form. This would be Martin’s third appearance in the United States.

Martin will face the highest-ranked available challenger if Haney decides to vacate the belt.