Victorious Teofimo Lopez calls out unified welterweight champion Terence Crawford after controversial 140-pound title defense over Jamaine Ortiz: ‘I’ll fight him at a catchweight’
Teofimo Lopez (20-1) calls for a big catchweight fight with welterweight champion Terence Crawford after defending his WBO 140-pound title with a controversial win over Jamaine Davis in Las Vegas on Thursday.
“Glory is the next step for me,” Lopez said in the ring as he faced a raucous, cheering crowd. “None of these guys want to fight me. I will fight (Terence) Crawford at a catchweight. I’m here. I’m ready. I’ve always been ready. I’m younger, more beautiful and at 25, a two-time champion.’
On Thursday, the 26-year-old Lopez didn’t make a good case for himself to compete against the 40-0 Crawford.
Instead of dominating the underdog Ortiz (17-2-1), Lopez landed just 78 punches, his fewest in a twelve-round fight.
To his credit, Ortiz had an effective defensive game plan, although Lopez accused him of shying away from the play.
Teofimo Lopez celebrates his victory over Jamaine Ortiz to retain the WBO junior welterweight title
Bud Crawford (40-0) was challenged by Teofimo Lopez, who demanded a catchweight bout
“I did my best for the people,” Lopez said. “I even tried to box backwards, but he wouldn’t commit.”
But if hLopez doesn’t fight Crawford, there are other options, perhaps including Devin Haney in a potential 140-pound unification bout.
Lopez was asked about fighting Haney before Thursday’s fight and the certainty didn’t shut down the idea.
“Maybe we will have a unification fight,” he told Sky Sports. “That’s on them on their side.”
The two seemed to be on a collision course when Lopez was coming off his stunning upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020, but the 26-year-old Brooklynite has been through a lot since then: a loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, a battle with COVID-19 that resulted in the cancellation of the rematch, and a public divorce from his wife, Cynthia.
His behavior became more erratic ahead of his title fight with Josh Taylor, which he incorrectly predicted would be his last fight on ESPN.
“And just to make it 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 said was racist.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry,” he continued. “This is why this (Josh Taylor) fight means the world to me. If they want the black fighters, they can keep them. I took (the sponsor) Bud Light to the top spot.”
Teofimo Lopez trades punches with Jamaine Ortiz for the WBO junior welterweight title
After defeating Taylor for the WBO 140-pound title, Lopez told reporters he would retire, although that also turned out to be untrue.
And his behavior became no less bizarre on Thursday.
Responding to boos after the controversial win (117-111, 115-113, 115-113), Lopez told angry 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’s going to have to put on a better show and leave the post-fight sophomore antics alone.