If Teofimo Lopez decides to return to boxing, he wants to be paid what he’s worth. His recent win over Josh Taylor in New York has significantly increased his value in his own eyes. This victory secured him the WBO super-lightweight belt, making it the second division he has succeeded in, having already won three titles one division below, at lightweight.
Lopez’s performance at Madison Square Garden Theater was reminiscent of his win over Vasiliy Lomachenko three years prior but even more dominant. The three judges on Saturday night awarded him a unanimous decision with scorecards of 115-113, 117-111, and 115-113 again.
Post-fight, Lopez announced his retirement from the sport despite only being 25 years old, mentioning a custody battle with his ex-wife for their child, Junior, as one reason behind it. He subsequently appeared on Shawn Porter’s podcast, The Porter Way, to explain the reasons behind his departure from the sport and his perceived value, claiming that the $1 million he is being paid per fight is inadequate and that he feels he’s worth more. He also apologized for some of the controversial statements he made in the lead-up to the fight, stating that his family was concerned for his safety.
Lopez plans to open a two-story boxing and MMA gym in South Florida with his father to train fighters for their company, Takeover Promotions, as well as offer education on how to speak on the mic, be financially stable, and maintain one’s authenticity. He considers himself to be the “black sheep” of the boxing industry, and he believes he has immense value; he noted that ESPN has made over $100 million from him, yet he’s only being paid $1 million per fight. He called for more transparency and less corruption in the sport.