Teofimo Lopez says his father did not give him the right instructions during his unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in January.
Lopez admitted that he agrees with fans who criticized his corner after the fight, saying he needed clearer guidance and stronger support as Stevenson controlled the matchup.
“My father, who’s my trainer, just wasn’t giving me the proper instructions that night,” Lopez said. “When you have everyone against you, and you feel your back’s on the wall, in those moments you’ve got to be with your fighter and tell them the right things.”
Lopez said he cannot always rely only on self-motivation and needs his team to help him adjust in difficult moments.
“I can’t just always self-motivate myself,” Lopez said. “That’s why you have a team.”
The former champion also revealed that he broke down in tears the day before the fight while sitting with his mother, saying he felt that something major was coming.
“I looked at my mother, and I just started crying,” Lopez said. “I don’t know if it was saying goodbye to something, but definitely just a moment to reflect and appreciate the moment.”
Lopez believes the defeat marked the start of a new chapter in his career. He has brought childhood trainer Milton Lacroy back into his corner and plans changes as he moves up to welterweight.
The 28-year-old has verbally agreed to challenge WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero on August 22 in Las Vegas, with the fight expected to become official once the remaining paperwork is completed.
Image Credit: DAZN