WBO mild welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez’s potential title protection in opposition to #4 Subriel Matias on March fifteenth might be proven on common ESPN, not PPV. That’s excellent news for followers, who in any other case could be reluctant to dig deep to pay to see this struggle.
Lance Pugmire of Boxingscene reviews that Teofimo’s promoter, Bob Arum of Prime Rank, isn’t enthusiastic about putting this struggle on PPV because of the piracy drawback that is happening. That cuts into the income for the promoters, making among the occasions much less worthwhile to be positioned behind a paywall.
Lopez vs. Matias: No PPV
What compounds the issue is that Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) and the previous IBF mild welterweight champion Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) aren’t PPV fighters. It’s not a struggle that’s pay-per-view worthy, sadly. Matias isn’t a family title within the U.S., and Teofimo has been erratic in his fights within the final 4 years.
For Teofimo to be in a PPV struggle, he wants somebody well-liked, like one among these fighters:
– Ryan Garcia
– Devin Haney
– Gervonta Davis
– Shakur Stevenson
– Terence Crawford
– Jaron Ennis
None of these guys have proven curiosity in combating Teo, which is comprehensible as a result of he’s not a draw. Additionally, he’s had a string of controversial wins within the final 5 years that make him dangerous within the struggle. The very last thing these guys want is to be on the receiving finish of a hometown choice in opposition to Lopez.
You simply don’t know what you’re going to get with Teo. He seems to be nice after which seems to be horrible in opposition to the opposition, which is designed for showcase functions. His outside-of-the-ring conduct is odd, with him saying bizarre issues throughout interviews.
Teofimo wants a very good public relations coach to offer him speaking factors for his interviews and management his tendency to be a motor mouth, sounding like he’s coming from left discipline.
Teo’s Lack Of Attraction
Though Teofimo, 27, is a two-division world champion, he has did not develop into an enormous attraction as a result of his loss to George Kambosos, controversial choices in opposition to Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin, and lack of fights in opposition to big-name opposition.
Lopez has solely fought one well-liked fighter in his nine-year profession, Vasily Lomachenko, who he final fought 5 years in the past, in 2020.
The Matchroom-promoted Matias, 32, misplaced his IBF 140-lb title to Liam Paro, shedding a 12-round unanimous choice on June 15 final yr in Manati, Puerto Rico. Matias didn’t carry out effectively in that loss, getting outboxed and roughed up by Paro. In Matias’ final struggle, he stopped Roberto Ramirez within the second spherical on November ninth.
Lopez’s Final 5 Contests
– Steve Claggett: UD 12
– Jamaine Ortiz: UD 12 [*controversial]
– Josh Taylor: UD 12
– Sandor Martin: SD 10 [*controversial]
– Pedro Campa: TKO 7
Teofimo wants to maneuver as much as welterweight and go after one of many world champions, like Brian Norman or Eimantas Stanionis. IBF champion Jaron Ennis reportedly isn’t concerned about combating Lopez, however he would possibly change his thoughts if he will get his arms on a belt. Ennis is belt-hungry.
In case you’re Prime Rank, you’ve received to banging your head and questioning find out how to rework Lopez right into a sta. He’s gone downhill since his one large profession win in opposition to Lomachenko.
