Teofimo Lopez Removed from Ring Magazine's P4P Top Ten After Contentious Win
Teofimo Lopez, the WBO light welterweight titleholder, has been removed from Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound top ten rankings after his controversial victory over Jamaine Ortiz. The bout, which took place last Thursday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, left many fans questioning the judges' decision.
Challenger Jamaine Ortiz appeared to outbox Teofimo Lopez, showcasing superior ring control and landing more significant shots throughout the fight. Despite Ortiz's dominance, the judges scored the bout in favor of Lopez, with scores of 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113. This decision sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many fans believing Ortiz deserved the win.
Teofimo's questionable performances in recent years, including his victories over Sandor Martin and Vasily Lomachenko, have raised doubts about his standing in the pound-for-pound rankings. Some argue that Teofimo never deserved his spot in the top ten, considering the controversy surrounding these wins.
Ring Magazine's updated pound-for-pound rankings now feature fighters such as Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue, and Canelo Alvarez in the top positions. Teofimo's absence underscores the need for better judging in boxing to ensure fair outcomes for all fighters.
To silence his critics and regain his place among the sport's elite, Teofimo Lopez may need to rematch Jamaine Ortiz or face other formidable opponents like IBF champion Subriel Matias. Only time will tell if Teofimo can prove himself worthy of a spot in the pound-for-pound rankings once again.
Updated Ring Magazine Pound-for-Pound Rankings:
- Terence Crawford
- Naoya Inoue
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Canelo Alvarez
- Artur Beterbiev
- Dmitry Bivol
- Devin Haney
- Errol Spence Jr.
- Gervonta Davis
- Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez
