Teofimo Lopez is training with Team Canelo, staying sharp for a potential unification fight against IBF welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins. That fight might not end well for ‘The Takeover’ Lopez if he goes ahead with it.
Hitchins is like a combination of Shakur Stevenson, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Subriel Matias. He can do everything and is so hard to hit. I don’t see this ending well for Teofim.
Need a time machine
Lopez says he feels it “Rejuvenated,” but he’ll need a time machine to make that happen. He has not looked good for so many years that it is impossible to take him for normal value. He’s an old 27-year-old, and it’s hard to believe he’s not in his late 30s, considering how bad he’s looked since 2021.
Teo is still a good talker and can get the fans excited with his fights in 2025, but as far as winning any of them, that’s not going to happen unless he’s fighting a weak opponent. He’s become that kind of fighter — an Adrien Broner guy who can still talk but can’t even fight a lick.
Canelo’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, will have to be a magician to rejuvenate Teofimo and bring him back to what he was years ago.
If Teo leaves 0-2 in his 2025 fights, Turki Al-Sheikh may have a case of buyer’s remorse for signing him to a three-fight deal. If you look at Teofim’s struggles since 2021, you can’t expect much from him other than defeats and poor performances. Die-hard boxing fans are well aware that Teo’s career is on the wane and he won’t be back to be the fighter he once was.
The Claggett disaster
Teo looked like he was on edge after his last fight against assistant Steve Claggett last July, and was all battered in a hell of a performance.
You could give Lopez a break because he looked terrible against Jamaine Ortiz, Sandor Martin, George Kambosos and Pedro Campa because they are decent fighters. But there is no excuse that Teo is struggling against Claggett and has both eyes almost closed due to swelling.
Lopez’s three-fight plan
- Richardson Hitchins
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
- Final in February 2026
If Teofimo loses to Boots in October, his fight in February will be against the loser of Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney on the 2nd.
The Loser’s Bracket beckons
It is very likely that Lopez will end up on the loser’s bracket, ready to fight Haney. It’s a fight that Teofimo can win, but only because Haney can’t land a punch.
WBO 140lb champion Tefoimo (21-1, 13 KOs) hopes to get 2025 off to a flying start by taking on undefeated Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) and then IBF 147lb champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in approx
WBO 140lb champion Teo is a good grassroots champion but not the fighter he was five years ago. He may not have been a great talent in the beginning, but since 2020 he has gone downhill.
Three fights, three defeats?
“We just execute and take over. This is a great year for me. I feel rejuvenated. These are exciting fights that we can’t wait to make and take on,” said Teofimo Lopez to Fight Hub TV about his plans to fight Richardson Hitchins, then Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in October.
“I will not fight until the beginning of the summer. I want to play business this year. I want to make real deals. Richardson Hitchins, Jaron Ennis and then the final. I’m fighting a champion, and then a big fight.
“He just needs to let go of his pride and ego. Just play the job,” Teofimo said when asked if we’ll see a fight between him and Gervonta Davis. If you really want to fight us, that’s how we’ll do it.”
A duo we should see more of 🥊🔥 pic.twitter.com/BHJV1JdAaF
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 19, 2025
