Teofimo Lopez‘s return to the ring will seemingly have to wait a little longer.
He was last in action in June when he retained his WBO super-lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Steve Claggett.
It was an event that certainly didn’t set the world alight, with boxing fans hoping to instead see Lopez share the ring with the elite in the 140lb division.
It appeared that would potentially be the case when Lopez was in talks for a clash against former IBF super-lightweight champion Subriel Matias, who holds a record of 21-2, with all 21 of those victories coming by knockout.
He lost his IBF belt to Liam Paro last June, but returned in November with a second round knockout against Roberto Ramirez, paving the way for the clash with Lopez, which was eyed to headline a an ESPN PPV in Las Vegas in March.
That looks to no longer be the case though, after Keith Idec reported that Lopez has rejected the latest offer made to him by Top Rank.
“Teofimo Lopez turned down Top Rank’s final offer, “way above his contract minimum” according to what I was told, before a deadline late last night for a WBO 140-pound title fight vs. Subriel Matias. Lopez & Matias would’ve fought in an ESPN PPV main event March 15th in Las Vegas.”
Lopez has spent the last few days on social media laying out his issues with his promoter, asking how much it would be to buy out his contract to allow him to fight elsewhere, and it didn’t take him long to respond to the claims that he turned down Top Rank’s offer.
“PSA: I haven’t rejected the fight, they rejected my counter offer!
“I am flattered and honored that you all would love to see me fight right now. However, I’ve got unfinished business with TopRank Inc. I will be fighting this year, which is guaranteed by the powers that be! 3 6 9 Soon, you will see why I did what I did!”
When Lopez will return to the ring, or who he will indeed be fighting still remains to be seen, but he has previously been linked to a bout with Ryan Garcia, and ‘The Takeover’ has named the one condition that has to happen were he to face him.
