Teofimo Lopez Jr.’s days as a junior welterweight appear to be numbered.
Lopez, a 140-pound WBO champion, could soon be bringing his “Takeover” mantra to the welterweight division, he revealed on Saturday.
“147 is something that I plan on moving toward, probably even in this next upcoming match,” Lopez told ESPN reporter Mark Kriegel.
Lopez obliged when Kriegel asked if he’d fight WBO interim welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr. in September at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
“Listen, I believe what really sounds swell is ‘Teofimo Lopez, three-division world champion at 27 years young.’ I’m all about that,” he said.
Over the last year, Lopez has strongly hinted at retirement, but the 26-year-old New York native emphasized that those feelings were nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“I remember I [previously] expressed that ‘I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t need to.’ I felt that I had accomplished everything,” said Lopez. “I lost a little fire at that moment [talking about retirement], especially after coming off the phenomenal win against Josh Taylor.
“I still have the hunger for the game. I still have the love for the sport and that’s the main and important part.”
Lopez (21-0, 13 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision win against Steve Clagget on June 29. The fight marked Lopez’s fifth as a junior welterweight since 2022, and the last four fights have gone the distance.
“I believe I still have the power,” said Lopez. “I’m still maturing as time goes as far as power. It’s more so of IQ and EQ when you’re in the ring. That’s really where I am trying to progress now.
“I’ve allowed [Hall of Fame Top Rank] matchmakers [Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodman] to make my career.”
Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) is also promoted by Top Rank and is coming off a 10-round demolition and stoppage win against Giovani Santillan.
Top Rank’s roster at 147 pounds is weak, and Lopez would be a sensible opponent, especially once the WBO fully elevates Norman to the full title, an honor that still belongs to Terence Crawford, who is on his way to 154 pounds.
As the current 140-pound WBO titlist, Lopez can jump up to 147 pounds and immediately challenge for the title, per the sanctioning body rules.
Norman is interested in the opportunity to fight Lopez.
“It would be easy to make,” Norman told BoxingScene this week.
“If [Lopez] wants to come to 147, I will gladly introduce him to the division. Anything is possible. We have seen what he did in the past, trying to be great at a young age. … It could happen, but business is still business. Maybe it won’t happen.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
Read the full article here
