Unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez isn’t intimidated by WBC champion Devin Haney, after the latter registered his successful title defense against Yuriorkis Gamboa on November 7. Although Haney outpointed Gamboa, he still faced severe criticisms for failing to stop the 38-year-old Cuban.
Teofimo Lopez didn’t hesitate to ridicule ‘The Dream’ in his latest interaction with DAZN. The 23-year-old Lopez is still fresh from his win against Vasyl Lomachenko that earned him the lightweight straps.
However, Lopez and many other unbeaten lightweight champions are untested against each other. So, it revives the debate of who’s the best lightweight puncher in the active roster.
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While there are several to tout for, ‘Takeover’ Lopez is ready to face all of them in 2021. He recently sent a stern message to the active roster. Here, he demeaned Devin Haney’s winning efforts against Gamboa.
Talk your sh*t, @TeofimoLopez 😤 #TheTakeover
(🎥 via @DAZNBoxing) pic.twitter.com/osRBO1Rhxo
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 20, 2020
‘Takeover’ Lopez said, “I gotta say like this though, show me something, you had the opportunity with Gamboa, 38 years old, you (Haney) couldn’t do nothing. You couldn’t do nothing. What does that show? What does that show for everybody else out there? You want to come at me, you better be ready.”
However, Haney isn’t the only one on Lopez’s radar. The unified champion has the entire roster in his crosshairs.
He added, “And that’s what I got to everybody coming in 2021. I’m coming out there to take your head off. And that’s what got a question you’ve had a great run this past year, one of the top fighters in 2020 the undisputed lightweight champion 10 people congratulations that always good to catch up with you.”
What awaits Teofimo Lopez in 2021?
The youngster has already proved his worth against some elites. In the coming year, he might face challenges in the form of Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, or Devin Haney.
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All these names have world titles under their belts and are still unbeaten. However, none of them have faced each other yet.
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Teofimo Lopez is a global superstar now and grabs huge attention with his actions. It is no surprise that a champion vs champion fight featuring him will be massive. That said, the inevitable politics of boxing can still block the matchups from happening.
Do you think Teofimo Lopez will continue his lightweight dominance in 2021? Who will he fight next?