Teofimo Lopez has made a swift decision about his future following his clear points defeat to Shakur Stevenson in New York last weekend. Lopez surrendered his super-lightweight world title after being outmatched over twelve rounds, despite entering the fight as an established contender at 140lbs against a challenger moving up in weight.
The loss has sparked debate about what comes next for the 28-year-old, whose career has featured highs such as victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, alongside more uneven nights against Sandor Martin and in his previous defeat to George Kambosos Jr. While questions have been raised, there has been no serious suggestion that Lopez should consider retirement.
Instead, the Brooklyn native has confirmed his next move. Lopez announced via Instagram Stories that he will be stepping up to the welterweight division, which appears to be driven by the search for fresh challenges.
The move places Lopez into a crowded and competitive weight class that currently includes world champions Devin Haney, Lewis Crocker, Rolando Romero and Mario Barrios. Barrios is due to defend his WBC title against Ryan Garcia later this month, while Conor Benn has also been linked to challenging the winner or Romero.
The shift also comes with an added layer of intrigue, as Stevenson himself has hinted at a possible move to 147lbs. Following his win over Lopez, Stevenson called out Benn and faced off with him in the ring, though that matchup appears unlikely for now due to Stevenson’s insistence on a 10lb rehydration clause.
Image Credit: BBC