Teofimo Lopez names three fights he wants next as he looks to ‘recreate’ Conor McGregor success
Sky Sports/YouTube/WikimediaWBO super-lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez wants to ‘recreate’ Conor McGregor’s UFC success in boxing.
Two-weight world champion Lopez returns to action on Thursday evening as he takes on Jamaine Ortiz in the first defence of his title he won off Josh Taylor last year.
Having been a three-belt champion at lightweight, Lopez is keen to add to his world title collection at super-lightweight and hopes for a huge fight next if he can beat Ortiz in Las Vegas.
‘The Takeover’ is a huge name inside and outside of the boxing ring and he admits he has taken inspiration from McGregor’s success in UFC.
The Irishman was a two-weight world champion in the MMA promotion and his popularity on both sides of the Atlantic transcended the sport.
McGregor has also made big money away from the Octagon with his various business ventures and Lopez has ambitions of replicating his success in boxing.
“Conor McGregor has my utmost respect, first and foremost he’s a smart businessman and look at the amount of revenue he’s gained from it. He is in the UFC. He is MMA, whether they like it or not,” Lopez told Fruity Slots.
“I’d like to recreate that in the sport of boxing. I look up to guys like that – not with greed or envy – but wanting to learn from guys like that. He’s much older than me and I’m always a student of the game.
“Me and him have had back and forth on the X app and Instagram, we follow each other, and it’s great to have a profound athlete like him – an icon and half of famer – consider me as someone he’s open to talk to, I’m honoured. I’m a kid in a candy store, it’s the best feeling in the world.
“I’ll mostly definitely seek his advice in business when we finally get together one on one. I’d definitely want to speak to him and pick his brain and he can pick mine too because I have some great ideas too.”
Lopez names Devin Haney, Terence Crawford and George Kambosos as future opponents
Should he beat Ortiz, there are lots of possibilities for huge fights for Lopez in the second half of 2024.
Fellow super-lightweight world champions Devin Haney, Subriel Matias and Rolly Romero will be watching on with interest, while Ryan Garcia is also a huge name in the division.
Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis are huge names at lightweight that represent a possibility, as does George Kambosos Jr, who remains the only blemish on Lopez’s professional record.
Similarly, welterweight king Terence Crawford would be a huge fight for Lopez if he was willing to step up from 140 lbs to 147 lbs.
Of all those names, though, three stand out as opponents Lopez would love to fight next.
“There are lots of people mentioning my name, but it’s all strategic moves,” he added. “I’ve had this before with George Kambosos, but now I have the experience.
“That’s why it’s great to have those L’s on my record, it’s great because it’s not a loss, it’s a learned lesson, because now I know why focus is important from a mentality point of view.
“My focus has only been on Ortiz, just last night I was film studying him. The talk about the other names is just nonsense for me right now. I’m blocking the noise.
“Do I want to face Haney and Crawford? Absolutely! But my first task is Ortiz. Crawford says he’s just travelling this year and I wish him the best, but may we meet eventually.
“I don’t want to name the names of who I want to fight because honestly, I’m bigger than all of them and they know it. But I’m going to avenge that loss to Kambosos, I’m telling you that. If that presents itself in the ring that man better have bodyguards.”
