By: Sean Crose
“Thank you everyone for making the greatest moments in my career a GREAT ONE!” Teofimo Lopez said on social media on Thursday. “Thank you @trboxing and @espn for creating ‘THE TAKEOVER’ into a real thing! I am forever grateful for all of the sanctioning bodies in Boxing for showing me I can and am more than Boxing! What a career.”
This message appeared over a retweet of WBO president Paco Valcarcel, who said: “Just now @TeofimoLopez is texting me that he relinquished his Jr welterweight title. We should respect his decision…If he come(s) back, wbo doors will be always open for him..”
And so Lopez seems to be sticking to his phrase that he’s now retired from the game of boxing after successful the WBO – and lineal – junior welterweight titles courtesy of a masterclass efficiency in opposition to defending titlist Josh Taylor final weekend in Manhattan.
“What a relief!” Lopez posted on social media earlier this week. “Retired at the Top. Thank you Boxing for the amazing life you’ve provided for myself and my entire loved ones.” Whether the 25 12 months outdated Brooklynite will stay retired stays to be seen. For the second, nonetheless, the 20-1 Lopez seems to be to be handing off his 140 pound crown.
After besting pound for pound nice Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020 Lopez, whose passed by the title “The Takeover,” misplaced the quite a few light-weight titles he gained from Lomachenko his very subsequent combat, an upset defeat to Australia’s George Kambosos.
Rather than attempt to win again his belts, Lopez moved up in weight to junior welterweight the place he appeared lower than spectacular in two wins. Indeed, many anticipated the colourful Lopez to lose final Saturday evening when he battled Taylor at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. Yet Lopez proved the naysayers unsuitable in definitive style.
Aside from the primary a number of rounds, Lopez dominated your complete combat in opposition to the beforehand undefeated Scotsman, Taylor. Defeating Taylor proved to be a excessive achievement, however there are those that imagine the fighter will ultimately aspire to search out new mountains to climb. He’s nonetheless a younger man, in any case.
Plus, there’s loads of competitors on the market, at the very least in the interim. There’s the exceedingly proficient WBC junior welterweight titlist Regis Prograis, in addition to the wildly common Ryan Garcia. Should he push for such fights, Lopez may doubtlessly earn a substantial amount of cash and a focus. This is a harmful sport, nonetheless, and Lopez’ choice needs to be revered, whether or not he decides to stay retired or not.
