‘Letting things play out the way they need to’: Teofimo Lopez talks his next moves in boxing
Teofimo Lopez hopes to have his next fight set before the end of the year as he hopes to make fights with Boots, Tank, and Crawford.
Teofimo Lopez appeared on ESPN’s recent card to discuss the state of his career with Mark Kriegel. Lopez discusses recent changes in his camp, now working with Eddy Reynoso, as well as fights he’s looking to make in the near future. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Lopez on bringing trainer Eddy Reynoso into his camp
“My father, he intended that I needed something. Maybe it could’ve been just a different change, I need some fire, some motivation from other champions or just being around different environment. And I think my father, he gravitated to Eddy Reynoso and I think that it was a great decision on his part.
“I’m always going to respect my father and I’m always going to go off his decision, not based on what people want, and I think it just came to a conclusion where we said okay, I think you feel like I need that fire again from the Magdaleno fight, from the Mason Menard fights, from the coming up. It’s a lot different when you’re coming up and when you’re already there...but don’t ever forget, all the people out there in the world listening, dynamic duo, me and my father.
“My father has done a great job thus far despite everything that people want to express. Listen, two-time undisputed really in my terms, but for everybody, two-time lineal world champion and a seven-time world champion...I got two trainers of the year that’s going to be in my corner the next fight.”
On what he’s planning to do next in his career
“Right now it’s just about listening to my team, letting things play out the way they need to, and hopefully before the closing of this year we should have a fight lined up for the beginning of 2025.”
On talks for a proposed fight with Devin Haney
“45/55 split I think as a world champion, as someone who is the king of the division at 140 lbs, junior welterweight division, I think the 10% is not a bad state...people know this in the boxing business, everything comes to counter offers, and that’s when we get to play ball. Lately right now we’ve been throwing offers, Todd DuBoef, Bob Arum, Jeremy as well, we all have been coming together as a unit with Top Rank and ESPN and just trying to really just push the needle.
“We’re trying. I think at the end of the day I need a fight, I need a freakin’ fight, man. But I need a fight, I need a guy that’s going to fight, like I need someone that has the skill levels. If you guys are saying you’re the best, fight the best.”
On who the fighters he most want to fight
“Jaron Ennis ‘Boots’, Gervonta Davis, and finish with Terence Crawford.”