By Dan Ambrose: Teofimo Lopez is reportedly having problems with the negotiations with his IBF mandatory George Kambosos Jr, and he says he’s going to look to start talks with WBC champion Devin Haney this week.
Teofimo will have to climb down from his high horse and forget about the $10 million that he told promoter Eddie Hearn what he wants for him to face Haney.
There are talks that the travel ban that is going on in Australia right now could be a factor that will get in the way of IBF/WBA/WBC Franchise/WBO lightweight champion Lopez traveling to face Kambosos Jr in that country.
Kambosos Jr (19-0 10 KOs) doesn’t bring much to the table for a fight against Teofimo (16-0, 12 KOs) other than a live crowd if they were to fight in his home country of Australia.
Teofimo has dad have been talking a lot about fighting Kambosos in front of 60,000 fans in Australia. That isn’t going to happen if the travel ban is in place in that country, which would potentially block the New Yorker Teofimo from fighting him.
Teofimo needs the Haney fight
It won’t work to bring Kambosos to the United States to fight Teofimo because no one has ever heard of this guy, and it wouldn’t sell tickets.
Teofimo can’t fight in Las Vegas in front of a crowd, and it would major failure if they took the fight to Texas to try and stage it in front of fans.
Kambososo is saying that what Teofimo is talking about is bogus news, but even if it, he appears to be more interested in facing Devin Haney right now rather than him. You can certainly understand that. Teofimo gains a lot more credibility and fame from beating Haney than he would in defeating the unknown Kambosos.
“This week we’re gonna be talking to Eddie Hearn and let’s see what happens from there,” said Teofimo to the AK & Barak show @SiriusXMBoxing
Kambosos gains more from the Teofimo fight than the other way around, as that match does nothing for him. You can argue this is a huge step backward for Teofimo, worse than his fights with Richard Commey and Masayoshi Nakatani.
Haney in the spotlight if Kambosos negotiations fail
“It’s already been proven, but these other guys [Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, and Devin Haney] are stars in the making,” said Teofimo to IFL TV in saying that he’s already proven that he’s the best at 135.
“I’m going to give him my respect as my mandatory,” said Teofimo about George Kambosos. “He fought his way to have a shot at me.
“He’s the mandatory in the WBO and the IBF. So it’s the least that I can do. However, if things don’t work in that fight, and things don’t go as they should, the next guy is Devin Haney.
“Eddie [Hearn] is going to say what he has to say about his fighters, and as a promoter,” said Teofimo about Hearn’s comments about him not being the undisputed champion at 135 because of his Franchise title isn’t a real one.
“He’s got to stay loyal to his people [Haney], and I totally understand. However, let’s make these types of fights happen, and I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to what this year brings and who I’m going to fight next,” said Teofimo.
This could be a ploy by Teofimo to weasel a better deal from Kambosos by making him think he’ll lose the fight if he doesn’t agree to his offer.
Teofimo complaining about his limited options
“I think Devin is lost, and what it is is desperation,” said Teofimo. “And I think that’s what’s going to cost him. I think Ryan [Garcia] has his own insights on who he wants next.
“The only person that is trying to force a fight with me, and he will get his opportunity, is two guys, Kambosos and Devin,” said Lopez.
Teofimo would be better off vacating the IBF title and taking advantage of the short amount of time he has left at 135 by facing Haney, Tank Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Vasily Lomachenko in that order.
What’s troubling is Teofimo talking about only having two fights left at 135 before he’s forced to move up to 140. If that’s indeed the case, why is he wasting his time trying to negotiate a fight with Kambosos?
The only logical explanation is that Teofimo doesn’t fancy his chances of beating any of the big four at 135.
Teofimo’s grueling fight against Lomachenko may have done something to his self-confidence because he doesn’t seem to have it any longer. Also, he’s not thinking straight.
As I stated, if Teofimo only has two fights left at 135, what in the world is he thinking of using up one of those fights against Kambosos. That’s a bizarre move unless you look at it from the angle of Teofimo not having the confidence to take on the top lightweights.
Teofimo says Ryan Garcia vs. Tank Davis fight NOT happening
“Now with the whole Ryan Garcia situation and Devin, that’s between them,” said Lopez. “However, they play it, and however, they do it.
“As long as they fight, that’s all that matters. I don’t think the Ryan Garcia – Tank Davis fight is going to happen.
“That’s my opinion, though. Let’s see what they do. That’s why they’re so easily comfortable to say these things because it’s not written into stone yet.
“Nothing is thrown at them yet; it’s not agreed. People change once s*** hits the fan. In case you haven’t noticed by now, we don’t just talk; we back it up,” said Teofimo.
Teofimo isn’t the only one with doubts about the Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight taking place.
Eddie Hearn doesn’t see how it’s possible for the fight between Ryan(21-0, 18 KOs) and Tank (24-0, 23 KOs) can take place because they’re with different networks.
If Tank and Ryan don’t fight, they’re at least capitalizing on the cheap fame that they’re both getting right now with their dream fight taking place.
The problem with that is, boxing fans will be angry if they don’t fight. You can only cry wolf so many times before people stop paying attention.
It’s in Teofimo’s best interest that Ryan and Tank don’t fight because if they do, he’ll be the forgotten man. It won’t matter that Teofimo holds four titles at 135.
Those belts might as meaningless apparel for Teofimo to wear as he enters the ring. The fans will be a lot more interested in seeing Ryan and Tank fight than they will in watching Lopez take on the unknown Kambosos.