Time For Top Rank To Cut Ties With Teofimo Lopez
It’s becoming clear that reigning WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) Lopez has worn out his welcome with Top Rank.
LONG-TIME BEEF
The junior welterweight champion is currently in negotiations for a potential title defense against former IBF champion Subriel Matias. However, when it comes to Lopez, he can’t help himself from making headlines for better or worse. It’s no secret in boxing circles that Top Rank’s deal with ESPN is set to expire this year. As a result, the Brooklyn, New York native went to social media to indict the company he fights for.
WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
It’s not the first time Lopez has expressed his resentment with Top Rank. In the months following Lopez’s win over Vasyl Lomachencko to become the unified champion at 135 in December 2020, Lopez has been critical of Top Rank and contends that he’s been underpaid. In his mind, he’s one of the sport’s superstars, and Top Rank needs him if the company wants to continue its relationship with ESPN.
However, his performance in the ring speaks to the contrary. Over the last several years, Lopez has been one of the most inconsistent fighters in the sport. He will look spectacular for one night, like the night he won the junior welterweight title from Josh Taylor in June 2023, only to follow it up by looking flat and ordinary in back-to-back title defenses against Jermaine Ortiz in February 2024 and Steve Claggett in June 2024.
Moreover, many in the boxing community have accused Lopez of being an egomaniac who thinks he’s smarter and wiser than anyone in his vicinity. There’s a growing perception that he believes he’s above reproach for what he says as long as it garners attention and clicks. How long does Lopez think that Top Rank will tolerate what is now years of public disrespect? One best believe that the higher-ups at Top Rank have a folder of receipts with everything he’s been saying.
Despite being a two-division world champion who draws good ratings, the reigning WBO champion is a malcontent and an agent of chaos. Lopez may contend that he has the right to free speech. That’s not the point in this instance.
If he thinks that Top Rank is in trouble without him, he’s sadly mistaken. It would behoove Top Rank to move on and show Lopez the exit door when his contract runs out.
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