Teofimo Lopez confirmed that he nonetheless desires Terence Crawford subsequent following his win over Steve Claggett final Saturday night time.
Followers consider Teofimo is simply determined for the payday he would get combating Crawford and is aware of he received’t win that struggle.
Determined Marketing campaign for a Crawford Battle
The falloff from Teofimo’s recreation is fairly dramatic as a result of he’s not the identical fighter he was 4 to 6 years in the past. One thing has modified with him, and it’s arduous to determine as a result of he’s nonetheless younger at 26.
The best way Teofimo regarded in opposition to Claggett and up to date fights in opposition to Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin means that he’s going downhill. Therefore, the tireless campaigning for the Crawford struggle.
Lopez efficiently defended his WBO gentle welterweight title with a twelve-round unanimous choice over Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KOs) on the James L. Knight Heart in Miami, Florida.
He received by the scores 120-108, 120-108 and 119-110. However Teo’s eyes had been swollen on the finish of the struggle from Claggett’s many punches. Early on, Claggett was sturdy and lively. After the sixth, he light, and his work price and energy dropped off.
It was one other struggle during which Teofimo was pressured to go the complete twelve-round distance, displaying that his energy isn’t the identical within the 140-lb weight class because it was at 135.
Triple Crown Aim and Retirement Talks
The Prime Rank-promoted Teofimo says he would possibly retire if he defeats Crawford’s struggle. Nevertheless, the possibilities of going through Terence are slim, and it looks as if a joke with followers for Teo to proceed to name him out.
Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) says he desires to win a triple crown to turn out to be a three-division world champion, and he feels that Crawford is on his goal record. If Teofimo, 26, can’t get Crawford, he desires Brian Norman Jr. for that function.
“I’m a man that likes to take dangers. So, 147, three-division world champion at 27, seems like a superb ring for me,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez to the Title Sports activities Community when requested if he’d like to maneuver as much as welterweight subsequent after his win over Steve Claggett final Saturday night time in Miami.
It’s arduous to take Teofimo critically when he says he’s a man that takes dangers, becaue if that had been the case, he wouldn’t have fought Claggett. He’s a fringe contender with eight losses on his file.
Teofimo hasn’t taken any large dangers since his struggle with Vasily Lomachenko in 2020. Lopez’s struggle with George Kambosos Jr. was considered a simple one getting in, however the Australian outhustled him in his loss in 2021. All of the fights since then for Teofimo have been non-risky.
The Path to Crawford: Brian Norman Jr. and Welterweight Transfer
If Teofimo is critical about taking dangers, he ought to face Brian Norman for the WBO welterweight title after which use the victory to create public stress for a match in opposition to Crawford,
“I look ahead to extra legacy. Whether or not Brian Norman is the subsequent man or whether or not it’s Crawford,” mentioned Teofimo. “Individuals suppose I’m biting greater than I can chew. I don’t care. It’s one of the best combating one of the best. The hardest combating the hardest, and whoever prevails on the finish. That’s Teofimo the Takeover.”
It appears apparent to followers that Teofimo’s rationale for wanting a struggle in opposition to Crawford is for cash solely. Teofimo isn’t combating at 147 or 154 to place himself able to get the Crawford struggle, and he’s not combating the suitable opposition at 140 to extend his fame.
“Yeah, I do. I would like Terence Crawford. I don’t care what individuals suppose. Should you suppose I’m a chump and straightforward man, carry it on. End me already. I would like Terence Crawford. He’s the one final man to get the triple crown for me. For me, he’s the final man, and possibly I may grasp it up after that,” mentioned Teofimo.
Crawford isn’t going to struggle Teofimo as a result of he’s focusing on a struggle in opposition to Canelo Alvarez, however he must win his August third struggle first in opposition to WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov. It’s unclear if that struggle was Crawford’s concept or His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s.
Provided that it’s Turki’s card on August third, it appears affordable to imagine that he got here up with the thought for Crawford to struggle Madrimov.
