Subriel Matias and Teofimo Lopez are near a deal for a March fifteenth combat for Teo’s WBO 140-lb title on ESPN PPV. The previous IBF gentle welterweight champion Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) might be trying to change into a two-time 140-lb champion towards Lopez.
Deal Shut
The Matchroom-promoted Matias fought as soon as since shedding his IBF belt to Liam Paro on June fifteenth, and he desires to dethrone Lopez.
“Teofimo Lopez and Subriel Matias are finalizing a deal for a March 15 combat for Lopez’s WBO junior welterweight title, sources advised ESPN. Combat will headline ESPN+ PPV. No location but for this motion combat between one of many sport’s prime fighters and a former champion,” stated Mike Coppinger on X.
Teofimo has been pushing for an enormous combat for the final 4 years, however his promoters have failed to supply him something compelling. Matias is perhaps one of the best that Lopez can hope for proper now till one thing opens up for him.
A loss to Matias would devastate Lopez, who has received his final 5 fights since his defeat towards George Kambosos Jr. on November 27, 2021. That’s why it’s exhausting to consider Teo will take this combat; it includes a variety of dangers and never the large payday that he’s been pushing for together with his callouts of Terence Crawford and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Dan Rafael experiences that he was advised this by Prime Rank concerning the Teofimo Lopez vs. Subriel Matias negotiations: “It’s soooooo removed from getting finished. Sure, there’s been conversations — however miles aside.”
That’s not precisely promising. We’re speaking about Teofimo right here. He believes he’s the ‘king of the sunshine welterweight division based mostly on his win over former undisputed 140-lb champion Josh Taylor on June 10, 2023, and he feels that win made him a two-division four-belt champion.
Taylor solely held the WBO and Ring 140-lb titles when Teofimo beat him. So, he didn’t change into the undisputed champ in an actual sense from that win.
