Teofimo Lopez Details His Plans For 2021
When it comes to boxing in 2020, no one made a bigger impact than Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs). Ever since upsetting Vasyl Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) on October 17, 2020, to unify the IBF/WBA ‘Super’/WBO World Lightweight titles, he has become one of the sports “it” fighters. And due to his winning effort against “Loma”, many pundits named Lopez the 2020 Fighter Of The Year.
As the sport turns the page into 2021, fans are wondering what will be his next move. After his win over Lomachenko, Lopez said he intended to move up to the junior welterweight division. When it comes to a rematch with Lomachenko, Lopez has repeatedly said that it will not happen.
However, fighters like WBC World 135-pound champion Devin Haney (25-0, 15 KOs), WBC “Interim” World Champion Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17, KOs) and WBA ‘Regular’ World Lightweight belt-holder Gervonta “Tank” Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) are lurking. The same goes for the IBF Lightweight mandatory, George Kambosos Jr (19-0, 10 KOs). There is a serious argument that Lopez still has unfinished business at lightweight.
SETTING THE AGENDA
During an appearance on TMZ Sports, Lopez mapped out his plan for 2021. The unified 135-pound world champ stated that for the time being, he plans on fighting three times this year, putting a pause on a move up to 140-pounds.
“Our goal is to fight three times this year. Whether it’s my mandatory, Garcia, Haney, Tank Davis, those guys at 135. That’s what our goal is, then 140.”
If a mandatory fight against Kambosos falls through, Lopez said he is going straight away for a unification bout against Haney. Asked about a match with Davis, Lopez claims the fighter and his promoter, Floyd Mayweather, are ducking.
The Brooklynite left one final message for his contemporaries: let’s settle matters in the ring.
“For real, I know y’all scared and shit, but let’s just make the fight happen for the fans. Let’s just do that. Don’t overprice yourselves.
If y’all believe y’all the best and y’all think that y’all can take this, then let’s make the fight happen! Man, don’t be a pussy about it.”
Bold words from Lopez. And he has now taken to calling himself the King of the Lightweight division. But the reality is, to call himself the absolute best, he must fight Haney, Davis, and Garcia.
Fans love this kind of big talk. It is meat, attention-grabbing, and makes for great headlines. However, it must be followed by action.
Each of the world champions at 135 is young, talented, and popular. They are the now and the future of the sport. For the sake of the sport, here is hoping that Lopez will carry out his words, and we get to see them fight each other.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
