Teofimo Lopez wants all the smoke! “Who would I be if I didn’t face the best? That is the only way I become greater.” Lopez had stated once in an interview. On that note, next in Lopez’s crosshairs is the two-time undisputed champion of the world Terence Crawford. ‘Bud’ dominated in his last fight against Errol Spence Jr, making the latter touch the canvas three times before ending the fight in the ninth round with a TKO finish. With that, Crawford was crowned the undisputed champion of the welterweight division.

Teofimo is currently the WBO champion in a weight class just below ‘Bud’s. But wait, there is a twist in the tale. Crawford is now moving up to 154 to challenge WBA titleholder Israil Madrimov on August 2. Will Lopez be willing to jump to 154 though? Most importantly, time is running out as Crawford isn’t getting any younger. The fighter will be 37 in September.

Moving on from Crawford, Lopez also expressed his interest in fighting the hottest prospect of the lightweight division Gervonta Davis. He was even audacious enough to address the 30-0 boxer with twenty-eight knockouts, and the current WBA lightweight champion in a condescending tone. Notice, the fluctuation in weight ‘The Takeover’ has to go through to compete with Crawford and Tank in their respective weight divisions. But can he do it?

Lopez looked confident ahead of his upcoming fight on June 29 as he fielded questions from the media. As predicted, the questions were more about his future than his forthcoming opponent itself. After all, he was going against a 35-year-old Canadian journeyman with 7 losses on his record. In the latest interview with Fight Hub TV, ahead of his title-defense fight against Steve Claggett, he laid out his plans for the future.

Teofimo Lopez throws down the gauntlet!

When asked about who he would want to fight next, Lopez told the media house, “The big dog, the mac daddy of them all and that’s Terence Blood Crawford.” Knowing that Crawford will be “on his way out” of the boxing business soon, Lopez confidently stated, “I’ll go up to 54 I’ll go up to weight classes it’s been done why can’t Teo Fimo do it.” 

Sensing disbelief in one of the reporters, he further emphasized, “Now you don’t believe it, I like it, put your whole house in it so I can take it from you.” Then he laid out his plans clearly for the media. He will be facing Crawford first, and then afterward he will be moving down in weight to face “mini me'” Gervonta Davis. “I will take Crawford first because Crawford is on his way out. Get him first, he’s the lineal champion, still we take him out and then we go back to the little mini me and that’s Tank.”

In the past, Lopez has proven that he will not hesitate to fight the best in the division. In October 2020, he fought against the very skillful and elite fighter Lomachenko who then possessed the WBA, and WBO belts, and defeated him on points to become the unified world lightweight champion. Last year, in the super-lightweight division, he defeated Josh Taylor via unanimous decision to become the WBO super-lightweight champion. Lopez was the first professional boxer to beat Taylor who was previously undisputed at super-lightweight.

Unlike the high-profile and skilled opponents he faced previously, in his upcoming bout, he will be facing Canadian boxer Claggett at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. Coming back into the ring after a controversial, and uninspiring UD victory against Jamaine Ortiz in his last fight, he picked an easy fight this time to build his confidence again. Subsequently, he will be going after the cream of the crop in boxing.

Will ‘The Takeover’ be victorious in the tune-up fight against Steve Claggett? Do you think Crawford will be willing to fight Lopez at this stage of his career?  Let us know in the comment section below.