Teofimo Lopez has already announced himself as a ‘Hall of Famer, no doubt’ at just 27-year-old.
His win over elite Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko to become unified lightweight world champion against the odds back in 2020 certainly adds to his case, as does a move up in weight to beat formerly undisputed Josh Taylor in excellent fashion to become a two-division titlist.
Even despite some lacklustre performances and a shock loss to George Kambosos Jr in the middle of those two fights of note, there’s a good chance Lopez continues to excel in the sport. Should he be inducted in the future, there’s one plaque already on the wall that he believes doesn’t belong.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Lopez said Tim Bradley had no business in the Hall of Fame.
“I don’t even know how Tim Bradley’s in the Hall of Fame, to be real. I don’t understand that part. I don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer … I don’t think Bradley is a Hall of Famer. There’s other guys, other f***ing fighters that definitely out-did his career and his resume … Maybe [he beat] one guy – Juan Manuel Marquez. But Pacquiao beat him. Ain’t no way he beat Pacquiao.”
Bradley is a two-weight world champion – super-lightweight and welterweight – who only lost to Manny Pacquiao in his professional campaign – defeated twice after winning the first bout of their trilogy by split decision.
Since hanging up the gloves in 2016, he has turned to the analysis of the sport and has not minced his words when it comes to Lopez. The current WBO 140 champ has taken particular issue with that.
On the feud, Bradley previously told the 3 Knockdown Rule Podcast that he believes Lopez ‘wants attention.
“I think this guy, Teofimo Lopez—I like the kid, man. I had a relationship with this kid. When I said what I said about him being ‘dog food’ for the 140s, I think that really ticked him off. So now our relationship has kind of gone south. I still think he’s a cool kid, but the thing is that the kid wants attention, man.
I’ve never seen a man whine and cry so much, man, about his situation. about the business of boxing, about what he’s not getting, about this fighter and that fighter, man, like, it’s ridiculous to watch and it’s shameful at the same time.”
