Teofimo Lopez gives a firm sign of giving up boxing for good by moving beyond Tyson Fury by relinquishing his WBO world light welterweight title shortly after winning it from Josh Taylor
- Teofimo Lopez has decided to retire from boxing at the age of 25
- He relinquished his WBO light welterweight title just days after winning it
Teofimo Lopez has officially relinquished the WBO light welterweight title just days after winning it against Josh Taylor, doubling down on claims he is walking away from the sport for good.
The former world twoweight champion has taken a step further than Tyson Fury did last year during his brief retirement after a points victory over Dillian Whyte.
Despite assuring fans that he would never box again, Fury refused to relinquish his WBC heavyweight crown and returned to the squared circle in December.
But Lopez has made a serious statement of intent by relinquishing the WBO title.
“Teofimo Lopez just texts me that he has relinquished his Jr welterweight title,” WBO President Paco Valcarcel tweeted Thursday.
Teofimo Lopez has relinquished his WBO light welterweight title and retired from boxing
Tyson Fury briefly retired from boxing last year but never relinquished his WBC heavyweight crown
WBO President Paco Valcarcel confirmed Lopez’s decision via Twitter on Thursday
“We have to respect his decision. When he comes back, the WBO doors will always be open to him.”
Lopez responded to the statement by writing, “Thank you everyone for making the greatest moments of my career amazing!
“I am eternally grateful to all the sanctioning bodies in boxing for showing me that I can and am more than boxing! What a career.’
Lopez retires with an impressive 19-1 record in professional boxing, with big wins over Richard Commey, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Taylor.
The only defeat of his stint in the paid ranks came in November 2021 when he was narrowly beaten on points by Aussie fighter George Kambosos Jr in a thrilling nip and tuck affair.
Over the course of seven years as a professional, Lopez won three of the four major sanctioning body belts at lightweight (IBF, WBA ‘super’ and WBO), as well as the WBO belt at light welterweight.