Teofimo Lopez Reiterates There Will Be No Lomachenko Rematch
There was a lot of talk about Teofimo Lopez Jr (16-0, 12 KOs) before his October 17 showdown against Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs). That talk continues in the aftermath of the 23-year-old defeating “Loma” to become the unified IBF/WBA ‘Super’/WBO Lightweight champion of the world. The question that looms now is, who will Lopez fight next?
A lot has been bantered regarding his next move given the proud product of Brooklyn has issues making the 135-pound lightweight limit. Promoter Bob Arum recently opined about the issue, suggested that he could stay in the division for a while, and even pondered about a possible Lopez v Lomachenko rematch.
During the lead-up to their showdown, the revelation came that there was no rematch clause. And Lopez, along with his father/trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr., stated that win or lose, they plan to move up to the junior welterweight division.
NO REMATCH NECESSARY
During an interview with TMZ Sports, the fighter who calls himself ‘The Take Over’ recapped the fight and reiterated there will be no second fight with the Ukrainian. In his mind, no need for a rematch.
“Look at the man before they announced the decision. They knew that he lost, and I knew that he knew he lost. I went up to him after the fight was over and I said ‘good fight.’ I grabbed his father and I said ‘safe travels,’ pretty much saying goodbye to them because I knew I won.
But he didn’t want to give me back that same gesture. So I was like whatever, I did my part. The fighting’s done. I whooped your ass. You cut me, butted me and shit but it’s fine.
He didn’t show up at the press conference, he didn’t show up to anything. That just shows you what kind of champion he really is.
For what? Fuck him. I beat him and it’s at the point where everyone wants me to fight him again, for what? I beat him not only at his own game but on top of that, being off for ten months and fighting the guy people said was the best pound for pound.
I’m the king now, I’ve always been the king. I was just the underground king. Now I’ve been crowned.”
Asked about a fight against the likes of upstart Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) down the road, Lopez feels fighters like Garcia need him more than he needs them. While not opposed to the fight, the unified 135-pound world champ says that he has to show and prove.
The self-described king of the lightweight division is sitting on the top of the world right now. He has options galore at both 135 and 140-pounds. The boxing world is anxious to see what he and his team decide to do next. One thing is for sure: in his mind, those plans do not include one Vasiliy Lomachenko.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
