If there’s one thing about Teofimo Lopez, he has no problem sifting through divisions and fighting the very best.
Back when Vasiliy Lomachenko was at the top of his game, Lopez perpetually called him out. Those in boxing circles laughed but Lopez proved everyone wrong, beating Lomachenko via close decision. A few years later, Lopez moved up in weight and eventually challenged Josh Taylor. At the time, it was the same old song and dance as Lopez was ridiculed. Still, that didn’t stop him from beating Taylor over the course of 12 rounds and becoming a two-division champion.
Even with those past experiences, Lopez is being doubted again. Grabbing belts at 135 and 140 pounds is one thing, but up at welterweight? That’s a completely different animal.
Lopez though, isn’t paying attention to any of it. He became the man at 135 and 140 and that won’t change in a new weight class.
“Beware, Teofimo is coming to conquer the 147 division,” said Lopez to The Ring during a recent interview.
Eventually, Lopez will dip his toes in a new weight class but for now, he has at least one more assignment left at 140 pounds.
On May 2nd in Times Square, Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) will attempt to defend his Ring and WBO titles against Arnold Barboza. On the same card, both Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia will take on Jose Ramirez and Rolando Romero. The Ring Magazine card will be carried by DAZN PPV.
Presumably, Haney and Garcia will make the welterweight division their permanent homes. Since they’re his contemporaries, Lopez knows that he has to fight them at some point. In all likelihood, those showdowns will have to take place at a higher weight. And while they technically have the edge in that regard, Lopez isn’t sweating it.
“They’re moving up to 147, I’m still at 140. So they’ll at least get a little head start but I'm coming to conquer.”