Can Teofimo Lopez Sr. Share The Room With Eddy Reynoso?
Over the past few years, junior welterweight fighter Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) has tumbled chaotically down boxing’s Fury Road. Having turned in multiple sour, second-tier performances and steeping to racist depravity to solicit prizefights, many have already labeled The Takeover as damaged goods. In all likelihood, this is exactly why famed chief second Eddy Reynoso now serves as co-trainer, shoulder to shoulder with The Takeover’s father and current lead trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr.
Obviously, there are numerous benefits to be harvested from a Reynoso merger. After all, Reynoso is the famed trainer of boxing sensation and unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Along with Alvarez, Reynoso has led Oscar Valdez, Julio Cesar Martinez, Ryan Garcia and Andy Ruiz into battle before.
Therefore, the question is not if or how Reynoso can drop valuable jewels. The real enigma will be whether Teofimo Lopez Sr. can co-exist and thrive with another trainer. Especially a trainer with a much more distinguished resume than his own.
THE THREE AMIGOS?
It’s no secret that Lopez Sr. is a boisterous character who is awfully fond of the limelight. It’s also no secret that, on numerous occasions, father and son have not seen eye-to-eye. Some even were given the impression that the two flirted with the notion of parting ways. The Takeover and his professional relationship with this father appeared particularly strained when in preparation for his duel with Vasiliy Lomachenko. Now, it will be revealing to see what this co-mingling of coaching styles and personalities yield in the gym.
Ideally, Reynoso will get Lopez back to basics and put those natural athletic gifts back on display. On the other hand, there is the alarmingly high potential that there will be a major clash of personalities where undue strain is placed on the professional team. As previously mentioned, neither father nor son have any compunction about putting feet in mouths. This is why a pricked pride could so easily, and quickly, result in a complete collapse.
There does not technically have to be any over the top theatrics for conflicting ego’s to negatively hamper a training camp. Smaller issues have reeked grander havoc. For the time being however, Lopez does not even have an official opponent on the books. So his team has that much longer to acclimate themselves with one another before going to war. Let’s hope we get the best version of all parties included!
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