Teofimo Lopez (20-1) is calling for a massive catchweight fight with welterweight champion Terence Crawford after defending his WBO 140-pound title with a controversial decision win over Jamaine Davis in Las Vegas on Thursday. .
“Glory is next for me,” Lopez said in the ring as he faced a raucous, booing crowd. ‘None of these guys want to fight me. I will fight (Terence) Crawford at a fixed weight. I’m here. I’m ready. I’ve always been ready. “I’m younger, prettier and a two-time unified champion at 25.”
On Thursday, Lopez, 26, didn’t make a good argument for fighting Crawford 40-0.
Instead of dominating the underdog Ortiz (17-2-1), Lopez landed just 78 punches, his fewest in a 12-round fight.
To his credit, Ortiz had an effective defensive game plan, although Lopez accused him of shying away from action.
Teófimo López celebrates defeating Jamaine Ortiz to retain the WBO junior welterweight title
Bud Crawford (40-0) was challenged by Teofimo Lopez, who demanded a catchweight fight.
“I did the best I could for the people,” Lopez said. “I even tried to box going backwards and he didn’t want to commit.”
But if Lopez doesn’t fight Crawford, there are other options, perhaps including Devin Haney in a possible unification fight at 140 pounds.
Lopez was asked about fighting Haney before Thursday’s fight and the certainty didn’t rule out the idea.
“Maybe we’ll do a unification fight,” he told Sky Sports. “That’s up to them on their part.”
The two seemed to be on a collision course when Lopez was coming off his surprising loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020, but the 26-year-old from Brooklyn has been through a lot since then: an upset loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, a fight with COVID-19 resulting in the cancellation of the rematch and a public divorce from his wife, Cynthia.
His behavior became more erratic leading up to his title fight with Josh Taylor, which he falsely predicted would be his last fight on ESPN.
“And just to be clear, this is my last fight on ESPN,” Lopez told Punsh Drunk Boxing in April 2023.
He then launched an attack on the network and its promoter that many fans considered racist.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry,” he continued. ‘That’s why this fight (Josh Taylor) means everything to me. If they want the black fighters, they can keep them. I brought (sponsor) Bud Light to Top Rank.”
Teófimo López exchanges blows with Jamaine Ortiz for the WBO junior welterweight title
After beating Taylor for the WBO 140-pound title, Lopez told reporters that he would retire, although that also turned out to be false.
And his behavior was no less strange on Thursday.
Responding to boos after the controversial victory (117-111, 115-113, 115-113), López told furious spectators: ‘Suck ad*** no-homo!’
He may still have his WBO title, but if Lopez wants to fight Bud Crawford, one of the biggest names in boxing, he’ll need to put on a better show and leave the post-fight antics alone.