By Jim Calfa: An angry Teofimo Lopez Sr sent a message to WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis on Wednesday that his son, Teo, will “beat the s**t out of him” in April.
Teofimo Sr was surprised to hear Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) fail to mention his son’s name on Tuesday when he spoke with Jose Ramirez on social media.
When Ramirez declined to take the fight, Prograis expressed interest in fighting a rematch with WBO champion Josh Taylor, who has a rematch with Jack Catterall next in early 2023.
Interestingly, the guy that wants to fight Teofimo next is Ramirez, who mentioned repeatedly that he wants to face him or Arnold Barboza Jr next.
Prograis feels that Teofimo would be no match for him after watching his poor performance against Sandor Martin on December 10th.
The logical reason why Prograis didn’t mention Teofimo, besides him looking poor against Martin, likely was because it’s common knowledge that Top Rank is positioning him to challenge for the WBO belt against the Taylor vs. Catterall II winner.
Teofimo is ranked #1 with the WBO, making him the likely choice to challenge the winner of the Taylor-Catterall II winner.
“We want him, and we want him in April,” said Teofimo Lopez’s dad to ESNEWS about wanting Regis Prograis in April. “He’s got no other fight, bro. He wants a big fight.
“If you listen to the interview with [Jose] Ramirez. What did Ramirez say? ‘Teofimo Lopez isn’t going to take that f***king bull s**t money.’ What did Prograis say? ‘I want to fight Josh Taylor again.’
“He never mentioned my son. Bro, be realistic. Josh Taylor isn’t going to give you another chance. Are you out of your mind? He’s got his own s**t going on right now.
“So the more realistic fight and a big fight is Teofimo Lopez. So how the hell are you going to come over here and talk Josh Taylor when Ramirez is already telling you about Teofimo Lopez? We’re coming after his a**.
“I don’t dislike the guy [Prograis]. The dude is a very nice guy. I like him. I met him before. This is boxing, so he has to take the challenge. My son is easy prey for Regis. So come and get it.
“That’s what everyone’s talking about. There’s no way in hell my son can beat Prograis. The same s**t that happened with [Richard] Commey and the same s**t that happened with Loma.
“I’m going to make all these mother f***kers eat their words, and you know who I’m talking about. You son of b***ches that talk s**t about my son, and then they got to eat their f***ng words.
“We did it twice before. We can do it three times easy because my son ain’t losing to a mother f***er that comes to fight. Ain’t no way. My son is gifted, bro. Prograis don’t move like my son. You know that.
“We’re going to beat the s**t out of him. We’re going to beat the s**t out of him in every round. We’re not going in there for the knockout. We’re going in to box the s**t out of him, and that’s what these guys are scared of.
“They’re scared of boxers. I’m not going to tell my son to go in there to knock nobody out because I never say that to my son. I say, ‘If it comes, let’s go and get it.’
“I don’t put that pressure on him. I’m really happy right now; I’m in a good place. We won, and I want to tell everybody, we won mother f***ers,” said Teofimo Sr. about Teo’s controversial 10 round split decision over Sandor Martin.
“Now we’re getting our minimums back. Big money. They’ve got to go to the bathroom and s**t that s**t out. They’re so angry, and I love it. Tell Prograis that we’re coming for his a**.
“I like him as a person, but when it comes to boxing, you’re in the wrong territory, bro. We’re going to come and get your a**, and that’s going to be his second loss,” said Teofimo Lopez Sr.