Spence comments on Teofimo Lopez saying Tank isn’t a blue chip

By Boxing News - 02/25/2019 - Comments

Image: Spence comments on Teofimo Lopez saying Tank isn't a blue chip

By Mike Smith: Errol Spence Jr. was asked about his thoughts on unbeaten lightweight contender Teofimo Lopez saying that two-time world champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis isn’t a “blue chip” fighter. Spence says he sees Tank Davis as being a very talented fighter, who at 24, shouldn’t be rushed into a fight against Vasyl Lomachenko right now.

Spence says he can’t see Teofimo being put in with Gervonta right now. He doubts that fight will happen despite the boxing world wanting to see those two square off.

“I like Teofimo. He’s nice,” Spence said esnewsreporting. “He’s been having spectacular knockouts, and he’s quick and very athletic. He got a high boxing IQ, but Tank is nasty too. Tank’s a dog too. That fights’ not going to happen right now,” Spence said.

Lopez, 21, is three years younger than the 24-year-old Tank Davis, and he’s going to get a shot at fellow Top Rank fighter Vasyl Lomachenko (12-1, 9 KOs) a lot sooner, given that he’s with the same promotional company. Tank Davis would likely take the fight with Lomachenko if it were available to him, but the fact that the two are with different promoters will likely keep them apart until Loma starts to lose a few steps. Lomachenko will need a popular fighter like Davis one of these days when he’s no longer the same guy he is now, and the roles are reversed. Davis will be the star.

“Absolutely not,” Teofimo said when asked if he thinks Gervonta Davis is a blue chip fighter. “No,” Teofimo said in response to the question of whether he viewed Miguel Berchelt as a blue-chip fighter.

Davis (21-0, 20 KOs) is a two-time super featherweight champion. He’s clearly a fighter from the highest order, which makes him a blue chip guy, whether Teofimo wants to admit it or not. Perhaps Teofimo has a different definition of what a blue chip is. If only Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a blue chip, then it’s going to take a while for Gervonta to get to where he’s at. We’ll soon see if Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) is a blue chip in his own right.

Top Rank Boxing promoter Bob Arum wants to put Teofimo in with Lomachenko in 2020. That gives Teofimo very little time to get enough seasoning for him to increase his chances of winning. Lopez will be fighting on April 20, and the rumored options for that fight is either Jose Pedraza or Devin Haney. We’ll have to see who Top Rank puts him in with. But with them interested in matching Lopez with Lomachenko in 2020, they need to start putting him in with the best fight now, because he’s not going to be ready to take that huge of a leap up in class if hes still fighting the likes of Diego Magdaleno at the end of the year.

“He should be focusing on Lomachenko rather than Tank,” Spence said. “Him and Tank aren’t going to fight no time soon. Tank is nasty. I see him spar a couple of dudes and punish them. Tank is what’s advertised. He is a tank. Tank is only 23, 24? He’s young though. 24-years-old. Everybody has to suck themselves down to make the weight. If he can make weight, he can make weight. The guys only 24-years-old. There’s no rush. He still has four more years before he gets in his prime when he’s 28, 29. Why you want to rush the dude? He’s a two-time champion. Why move up in a rush and fight Lomachenko?”

Top Rank has to put someone in with Lomachenko while he’s still at his best. His fights against Jose Pedraza and Jorge Linares were good, but he needs to fight better guys to increase his popularity. Teofimo will help make him a bigger name if he wins.

YouTube video