‘Franchise Belts Don’t Count!’ – Eddie Hearn Goes Back and Forth With Teofimo Lopez

Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn had an altercation with Teofimo Lopez and his father after the Canelo Alvarez fight. Hearn was in attendance to watch his fighter Callum Smith take on the Mexican in one of the biggest fights of the year; Lopez was there to show support to Alvarez.

Ultimately, Canelo won after dominating the Englishman for 12 rounds. However, after the fight, Hearn ran into team Lopez and had a fairly friendly back-and-forth.

They were debating on the Devin Haney fight when the English promoter was asked about that potential bout.

He turned to Lopez and said, “Can we double down on the purse? I’ll take Haney, winner takes all? Something like that? We might do something like that.” To which Lopez responded by saying they’re the ‘A-side’.

Hearn then retorted by saying, “You’re missing one…. You can’t be undisputed.”

Lopez then said he would show him he is undisputed and showed Hearn a picture of his belts.

However, the outspoken promoter was quick to shut it down by saying, “Franchise belts don’t count.” Hearn added, “The only thing I don’t like about the franchise belt is, when you win the franchise belt, you can’t be undisputed.”

READ:WATCH: Canelo Alvarez Shares a Special Moment With Teofimo Lopez After Beating Callum Smith

Why did Eddie Hearn get into the argument with Teofimo Lopez?

Hearn represents Devin Haney, who is the WBC lightweight champion. And this is the only belt that Lopez doesn’t have. So despite it being a very casual and light-hearted argument, there was a reason for it.

Haney has called out Lopez to come and get the ‘Real’ belt, while Lopez insists that the franchise belt counts as undisputed.

Despite all of this, going by the rules of the sport, the 23-year-old cannot be undisputed until he has the belt that Haney possesses. So maybe we could see the two young stars getting in the ring and this conversation between Hearn and Lopez will set the ball rolling for a potential undisputed fight.

If the fight is to happen, who do you think will come out on top?

READ: ‘You Couldn’t Do Nothing!’ – Teofimo Lopez Rips Devin Haney During Canelo vs Smith PPV