Teofimo Lopez Considers Moving Up: What’s Next for the Former Champion?
Teofimo Lopez has made a name for himself as a pound-for-pound contender, highlighted by his notable victories over Vasyl Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. However, there are growing rumors that the WBO super-lightweight champion might vacate his title and move up to the welterweight division, which could further solidify his place among the best in boxing.
In 2020, Lopez pulled off a stunning upset by defeating unified lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, a victory that remains a highlight of his career. Yet, his reign was abruptly halted by a surprising loss to George Kambosos Jr., marking a significant setback for the young fighter.
After that defeat, Lopez shifted his focus to the super-lightweight division, quickly making a splash by defeating Taylor in just his second fight at 140 lbs. Once again, he proved his critics wrong.
Despite these achievements, Lopez’s recent unanimous-decision wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett have raised eyebrows and led some to question his status as a champion. Nevertheless, he continues to call out other champions for unification bouts.
Now, Lopez is feeling the pressure from challengers in the WBO rankings. Jack Catterall has recently expressed interest in a title shot, revealing in an interview that he has heard Lopez may be planning to vacate his belt, especially after his latest victory against Regis Prograis.
“I’ve been told that Liam Paro, who holds the IBF title, is set to fight Richardson Hitchins on December 7th, and that could open doors for me,” Catterall explained. “As for the WBO, I’m hearing Teofimo is moving up to 147 lbs. We would love to face him, whether at 140 or 147. If he vacates, the winner of the Ramirez-Barboza fight on November 16th might get a shot at the title.”
Catterall is hopeful that his manager, Sam Jones, will push for a title opportunity at the upcoming WBO convention, especially with the possibility of Lopez vacating his title looming. The next few weeks could be pivotal in determining the future of the WBO championship.
