Unified lightweight champion Teofimo López is not moving away from the boxing business.
In an interview on ESPN on Saturday night, Lopez addressed a report on a contractual dispute between him and Top Rank Promotions for a future fight against the obligatory provocateur George Kambosos.
Lopez is looking for more than the guaranteed $ 1.25 million bag to defend his IBF belt in the £ 135 division. He said he is ready to face Kambosos in a fight that is not promoted by the Top Rank, if the price is right.
“I’m looking forward to going forward,” Lopez told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel. “If you can’t meet the conditions, then like I said, I’ll take my talent elsewhere.”
According to a report by The Athletic, Top Rank is not willing to pay more than $ 1.25 million for a fight against Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs). IBF has scheduled an auction for Thursday, which gives the winner of the auction the right to promote the fight. This puts ESPN’s responsibility to produce the rest of the money for López’s pocket. In 2018, Top Rank signed a seven-year contract with ESPN to produce network fights.
Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) is four months away from defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko in October to win the WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles.
Prior to Lopez-Lomachenko’s fight, Top Rank founder Bob Arum praised ESPN’s efforts to make this fight economically viable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The game took place in Las Vegas with no paid fans.
In Saturday’s interview, López explained why his financial situation is different from four months ago.
“Because you have the best fighter in the world in that show,” Lopez said. “Everything paid dues. And that’s what we did. We paid our dues. I’m your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter. That sets the tone and I think everyone should know. I’m the truth. I’m the best.” in the La division. “
Lopez said he currently plans to stay at £ 135 while waiting for the winner of the junior welterweight fight between Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor. Ramirez and Taylor each hold two of the top four titles in the £ 140 division; their fight has not yet been announced.
Ramirez and Taylor also fight on ESPN and are promoted by Top Rank. Lopez said he hopes his next fight will be online. However, he said he believes it is worth more than what is currently offered, endangering his immediate future.
“I can no longer accept him or leave him,” Lopez told ESPN on Saturday. “It’s more of a purchase. I won it. Nothing happens. You have to win it.”