Will Teofimo Lopez Join Eddy Reynoso’s PED Gallery?
Two-division champion and current WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) has made headlines with his recent addition of chief second Eddy Reynoso. Team Lopez obviously is looking to re-tool some items in camp to achieve better results on fight night. When reviewing his performances with Sandor Martin, Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett, it’s easy to understand this desire. Some may be curious to know how far that need to win will go and whether a PED flag is imminent.
Admittedly, it’s a divisive notion, but there will also be fans and especially critics who suspect impending foul play. Foul play in the form of illegal chemical enhancements. While it’s true that The Takeover is free from a tainted past in this regard, this is not totally true for Eddy Reynoso. The talented trainer has had three high profile fighters provide hot samples. This includes Julio Cesar Martinez (popped twice), Oscar Valdez and his most prized pupil, unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. And truthfully speaking, none of the above provided a truly flushed out and believable explanation.
Naturally, just because a fighter is flagged for a wrongdoing this does not automatically implicate the trainer. That would be foolish. Yet, let’s suppose a restaurant owner had three of their most popular servers busted for selling drugs out of their establishment in a relatively short period of time. In this case, it’d be foolish not to at least ask the owner a few questions about their knowledge of activity and potential involvement. Adhering to this brand of logic, it’s not outrageous to wonder if there was fire with that smoke surrounding Reynoso.
FLOCKING BIRDS
With increasing frequency the fans seem to care less and less about performance-enhancing-drug violations. From notorious repeat offenders like Jarrell Miller to extremely high profile boxers like Ryan Garcia, the fanbase doesn’t hold anyone accountable in any tangible way. In fact, Ryan Garcia, another former Reynoso fighter, is currently under suspension for a PED’s violation against Devin Haney. Yet, the public has instead villainized Haney for suing Garcia essentially for breach of contract rather than Garcia for initially cheating.
It’s this current climate of “anything goes” coupled with linking with a famously tainted camp that has some scratching their heads. Lopez certainly is in a career slump in terms of the paydays he wants and how he wants to be embraced by the public. With almost ten full years under his belt as a professional, now would be the time that some could get desperate. While this is all speculation and inflammatory watercooler talk, it will be interesting to see what good or bad results from this partnership.
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