Theophilia Lopez has to decide soon to keep his WBO a slight headline in the veil or surrender it to focus on his potential fight in October against IBF from 147-LB champion Jarona ‘Boots’ Ennis on Riyadh Turki al-Sheikh.
WBO Rok
The ring reports that the World boxing organization ordered Teofimo (21-0, 13 ko) to defend its 140 LB belt against the winner of the conflict on February 15th between #1 WBO Arnold Barboza Jr. (31-0, 11 ko) and #2 Jack Catterall (30-1, 13 ko).
Teo has to defend his WBO title against the winner of that fight within 180 days, with the deadline of August 14. Although it is certainly possible that Lopez at that time defends his title against the winner of the JR-Catterall Barbos winner, it seems 100% unrealistic to do so because of the risk of loss.
‘Brooklyn vampire‘As some fans call Teofimo, his promoters have been well protected in the last four years since George Cambosos Jr. revealed in a defeat divided into 12 round 2021.
Even with the careful game of Top Rank for Theophimo, he was still to be saved from defeat for evaluating judges in the fight against Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz 2022 and 2024.
There was talk of the theo who fights against IBF Light Welterweight Champion Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 Kos), perhaps in April, as part of a three-fight contract with Lopez signed with Turks al-Shaikh.
However, since Teofimo did not mention that fight in interviews, it suggests that he put that risky match. Lopez would traditionally avoid That kind of struggle with every ounce of his being. He is not capable of winning a high -level talent like Hitchins and he would look stupid trying.
If the Turks want Theophimo to lead that fight against Hitchins, he may need to pay him an excessive amount or pull him to the ring that hits and screams. It is unclear how much Teo would like to fight Hitchin, but it would not be surprising if it was an absurd number.
It is a terrible match for Lopez and would take him to a bad start with a unilateral loss in his contract with three fights with Turks. It would not be bad for Al-Sheikh if he had a clause about escape in his contract with Theophima to allow him to leave the agreement if he immediately lost in his first fight.
If Teo rejects Hitchins in a unilateral defeat, Turks would be useless to fight the ‘boots’ of Ennis on his October card in Riyadh. Boxing fans would not like to see Theophimo to fight Ennis from the back of loss and four terrible performances against Steve Clagget, Jamaine Ortiz, Sandor Martin and George Cambosos Jr.
