Shy a month from being linked with welterweight IBF champion Jaron Ennis who eventually turned down the potential fight, Teofimo Lopez is now accused of doing the same with a potential opponent in his own weight class: Puerto Rican former IBF super lightweight champion Subriel Matias. While Lopez’ rejection of a Matias fight has been attributed to his contract demands not being met, the move only further draws questions surrounding Lopez’ career following consistent callouts towards fighters in other weight classes.
WBO super lightweight (140 lbs) champion Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) is one of the most outspoken boxers in the sport and has developed a pedigree that has made him considered an elite fighter, but contrary to his usual outbursts, his latest move seems to have been made in silence. According to boxing writer Keith Idec, Lopez has effectively turned down a potential fight with former world champion Subriel Matias (21-2, 21 KO’s).
“Teofimo Lopez turned down Top Rank’s final offer, “way above his contract minimum” according to what I was told, before a deadline late last night for a WBO 140-pound title fight vs. Subriel Matias,” Idec posted on Twitter/X yesterday. ” Lopez & Matias would’ve fought in an ESPN PPV main event March 15th in Las Vegas.“
Lopez’ decision not to face Matias draws plenty of eyebrows given prior reports indicating he would fight in March of this year. Interestingly enough, Teofimo Lopez did appear eager for a fight with IBF welterweight (140 lbs) champion Jaron Ennis (33-0, 29 KO’s), but the fight seems very much on the periphery according to Ennis’ promoter, Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn.
“There was definitely conversations between Matchroom and Top Rank on that [Ennis vs. Lopez fight], some numbers were discussed,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV during an interview released on December 20th.
“We had to kind of hold [off] on those [discussions[ because our strict instructions from Ennis are: ‘we have to unify, and if I can’t unify I’ll either move to 154 [pounds[ and fight Vergil Ortiz, or potentially we could fight Teofimo Lopez’.
“I like the Lopez fight, but all he [Ennis] wants to do is unify. So we can exhaust those conversations with the [welterweight] champions, and if we can’t make it, we could fight Lopez, or we could fight Ortiz.“
In comparison to Jaron Ennis, who appears to be aiming for a fight with one of the three 147 lbs champions in his division, Teofimo Lopez appears to have a better chance to land a fight with the available Subriel Matias―who like Ennis is also promoted by Matchroom.
The Puerto Rican fighter most recently recorded a stoppage victory in November over Mexican fighter Roberto Ramirez (26-4-1, 19 KO’s) and appears to be the ideal opponent for Lopez to face amidst the absence of mandatories or available champions in or out of his division.
With Matias falling off as a potential opponent for Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KO’s) still remains a credible opponent he could face given he is linked with a return to the ring in March himself. However, no actual negotiations seem to be in place between the two fighters’ teams to suggest the bout will happen anytime soon.
Lopez’ last notable fight was in 2023 against former undisputed 140 lbs champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KO’s). Lopez ended up winning the fight by unanimous decision (UD) and further attained the WBO super lightweight title following his victory over the Scottish fighter.
A fight with the other three world champions in the 140-pound division seem to be less of a possibility given Teofimo Lopez has yet to expressly state interest in unifying against any of the current champions.
