Teofimo Lopez Proclaims He Will End 2022 as Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion!
Former unified lightweight champion Teofimo “Take Over” Lopez (16-1, 12KOs) has made a major proclamation for 2022. After being upset by George Kambosos (20-0, 10KOs) in November of 2021, the former champion is heading to a new weight class with major expectations!
Take Over made a bold prediction on Twitter in response to his promotional company Top Rank asking for bold predictions for the sweet science in 2022. Never one to lack confidence and expression, Lopez let loose his intentions to become an undisputed junior welterweight champion. His lofty prediction will surely bring a vast diversity of different thoughts and opinions.
For one, he was never undisputed champion at lightweight, as the IBF, WBO and WBA never publicly acknowledged the WBC’s Franchise title. Even if successful with this aim, the same three sanctioning bodies would stop short of naming Lopez a two-divisional undisputed champion. However, Lopez and Mauricio Sulaimán the WBC president continue to run with that notion. Furthermore if Lopez is to achieve this goal, he’s going to have to do so in a division that features actual undisputed champion Josh Taylor (18-0, 13KOs) who earned undisputed by defeating Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17KOs) in May of 2021.
While Taylor insists his February 26 fight against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall will be his last fight at junior welterweight, it’s entirely possible that he could agree to stay and face Lopez for the right amount of money. Although he dismissed facing Lopez after he lost to Kambosos.
RELATED:Josh Taylor: “Teofimo Lopez Can Come To 140 But He’s Not Fighting Me!”
The two have gone back and forth recently, with Taylor stating he would “bitch slap” Lopez. Lopez would fire back by questioning what does Taylor bring to the table, besides all the belts, which was a laughable statement. Needless to say, if he’s not going to face Taylor, I don’t see how he will accomplish that goal. Unless, he can secure a fight with Catterall, if he pulls off the upset.
After a year of upsets in 2021, will 2022 be the year of redemption? Teofimo Lopez would love nothing other than to regain his footing as one of boxing’s top pound for pound fighters.
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By: Jerrell Fletcher
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