A former unified world heavyweight champion has urged Teofimo Lopez to completely reshuffle his team before he decided to make a comeback to boxing.
‘The Takeover’ was beaten for the second time in his professional career on January 31 when he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to countryman Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Stevenson produced a fine display against Lopez to dethrone him of his WBO super-lightweight title and become a world champion in a fourth weight division in the process.
Lopez has been on the receiving end of substantial criticism in the weeks that have followed his loss to Stevenson with many claiming that the 28-year-old should make a number of changes, which could see his father and trainer Teofimo Sr make an exit from his current team.
Speaking to Fight Hype, former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman urged Lopez to assemble a ‘more professional team’ ahead of his return to the ring as he claims all members of his current team have ‘got to go’.
“All of them got to go. It ain’t no member of the team. The daddy, mommy, nobody. If you carry me like that, you got to go.
“What I’m going to do is regroup and go back. If I want to do this, I’m going to assemble a more professional team and I’m going to go back at it. I don’t think he’s done, one loss don’t determine a career.”
Lopez is expected to take some time away from the sport before he makes a decision on his next move, with reports suggesting that he could make the move up to 147lbs to pursue a shot at one of the current world title holders.
