By: Sean Crose
“The game is over,” World Boxing Organization President Paco Valcarcel acknowledged on social media Wednesday night, “@TeofimoLopez just informed me in writing that he will retain his @WorldBoxingOrg jr welterweight title.” The WBO had not too long ago demanded that Lopez let it’s identified whether or not or not he wished to carry on to the WBO junior welterweight belt he had received from Josh Taylor in extremely spectacular vogue again in June. For, virtually instantly after the battle with Taylor in New York, newly topped titlist Lopez introduced his retirement. “What a relief!” he claimed on social media. “Retired at the Top. Thank you Boxing for the amazing life you’ve provided for myself and my entire loved ones.”
The WBO ultimately wished to verify Lopez was critical about this intentions to go away the battle world behind. Lopez was due to this fact given a 24 hour deadline this week to let the Organization know the place he stood. Should Lopez have actually been retired, then light-weight kingpin Devin Haney would have had the chance to maneuver up in weight within the hopes of accomplishing the WBO junior welterweight title. If Haney refused, nevertheless, prime contenders Arnold Barboza and Jose Ramirez could be given the chance to battle for the WBO belt.
Now that phrase is out that Lopez intends to maintain his title, it’s value noting that the WBO would nonetheless have allowed Lopez to change into a direct necessary for it’s junior welterweight belt if Lopez determined he wished to battle once more throughout the subsequent twelve months. Although the whole matter got here throughout as moderately complicated, issues will doubtless quiet down now that Lopez has declared his intention to stay an lively world titlist. The tone of Valcarcel’s social media announcement on Wednesday, nevertheless, indicated that the WBO honcho was moderately pissed off by the whole affair. With that in thoughts, followers of the candy science can attest to the truth that Lopez is likely one of the sport’s extra colourful practitioners.
He’s additionally one of many sport’s stronger practitioners. After making his mark as a light-weight early on, he fought and defeated pound for pound ranked light-weight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko again in 2020. Although he misplaced his light-weight belts to George Kambosos in his first protection, Lopez got here again robust in his battle in opposition to Taylor final month. Indeed, the 25 yr outdated New Yorker dominated the undefeated Scotsman in what was primarily one sided vogue. Having made it clear he’s remaining within the battle sport, it will likely be fascinating for followers to see the place Lopez goes from right here.
