“I’m Not Going to Embarrass Them”: Bob Arum Explains Why Teofimo Lopez Fight Talks With Ryan Garcia Failed?

Last week, Teofimo Lopez defended his title successfully. In two months, Ryan Garcia will be staking his claim at one. So what’s next? Is there a possibility the two light welterweights could face off soon? Not that attempts weren’t made in the past. It’s a different fact; they went a cropper in no time. Bob Arum could vouch for that.

The Top Rank honcho has seen some of the grandest fights in boxing’s history. If not a top-billing blockbuster, the Teofimo Lopez-Ryan Garcia fight has everything in it to make it a perfect cliffhanger. As it appears now, seemingly Bob Arum was taken in by the idea of the two fighting. However, as the saying goes, a deal is only as good as the parties interested in it.

Action follows agreement: Bob Arum

So Marcos Villegas caught up with Bob Arum to discuss the light welterweight champion’s plans. The Fight Hub TV founder asked, “Looking at Teo’s trajectory if he gets past Ortiz, what are the plans? Cuz I know it was being discussed as a Ryan Garcia fight for this particular date, but you know both fighters are now in different fights. Ryan is potentially in a fight in April, but what’s the trajectory for Teo if he wins?”

Arum then revealed that there was apparently a deal with Oscar De La Hoya‘s Golden Boy Promotions. But reportedly, Ryan Garcia showed no inclination to proceed. Then he added how both De La Hoya and his close friend, Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez, met him at his Los Angeles residence.

Both parties, he stated, agreed with most of the major points of the deal. On their part, the Top Rank was able to bring about Teofimo Lopez. But unfortunately, as it happened, De La Hoya and his team failed to bring ‘KingRy’ to the project.

So, to put it in a nutshell, Bob Arum emphasized that ultimately, in the end, a fight happens only if the fighters are keen about it. As much as there’s no desire on his part to cause the Golden Boy to lose face, the fact remains that they couldn’t get Ryan Garcia on their side. “Well, it was close, but the promoters don’t fight; the fighters fight. I’m not going to embarrass them to ask him for a reason I know they didn’t have him on board,” said the Top Rank head.

There are quite a few options available with ‘The Takeover’. However, the boxer has time and again expressed interest in one fight in particular. Teofimo Lopez believes Terence Crawford should be his next big fight.

It is interesting to note. Back in November, Teofimo Lopez reportedly revealed that he had passed up a $1.5 million fight offer to fight Ryan Garcia. Subsequently, both boxers moved on with their respective projects. But a fight between the two is still doable and retains ample attraction. It didn’t happen when they were lightweights. But now, when there’s a window of opportunity, another attempt shouldn’t be ruled out by both camps.

Read More: Teofimo Lopez Brags About Floyd Mayweather Branding Him as “Smart Guy” Amidst Ryan Garcia Debacle? Whether

What’s your honest take? Whether a Lopez-Garcia fight should take place? Let us know in the comments below.

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