Sandor Martin Calls Foul on Teofimo Lopez!
Will we, or will we not see a matchup between Teofimo Lopez (17-1, 13 KOs) and Sandor Martin (40-2, 13 KOs)? That is in serious question in reaction to the developments during this week’s WBC convention in Acapulco, Mexico. The sanctioning organization has ordered a match between the two as a second and final elimination contest for its junior welterweight title.
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?
In response to their decision, Lopez took to social media claiming that his team had reached out to Martin for a fight in December 2022, but Martin outpriced himself. Martin disputes this claim, saying they were ready, but Team Lopez decided to move on.
An ex-unified champion at 135, Lopez is currently ranked third by the WBC at 140. He made his junior welterweight debut in his last outing, a seventh-round stoppage over Pedro Campo in August. He has a scheduled bout on December 10 against Jose Pedraza at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Martin is ranked fourth by the WBC at 140. He caught the attention of the boxing world with his upset majority-decision win over multi-divisional world champion Mikey Garcia in October 2021. He’s only fought once since that fight, a dominant ten-round decision win over Jose Felix in April 2022.
THE WBC MAZE
Regis Prograis and Jose Zepeda will fight for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. The winner is obligated to face ex-unified 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez. Next would be a mandatory defense against the winner of the ordered bout between Lopez and Martin. However, what is the likelihood of it happening?
Is Lopez willing to wait around to see who survives between Prograis, Zepeda, and Ramirez? Does he think that a fight with Martin is beneath him, given his open desire to face WBO champ Josh Taylor? What are Martin’s options at this point?
There is a scenario where a Lopez-Martin fight could happen should Lopez defeat Pedraza in December. The WBC may have its agenda of what they want. But it’s not always set in stone that fighters will follow suit. This is a situation worth keeping an eye on. Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for further updates.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
