By Robert Segal: Errol Spence Jr gave Teofimo Lopez some words of encouragement on social media today.
The two-division world champion Teofimo (19-1, 13 KOs) is going through some personal family issues, and he’s to retire from the sport and relinquish his WBO and Ring Magazine light welterweight title after beating the former undisputed 140-lb champion Josh Taylor last weekend.
“If it wasn’t dark days, we probably wouldn’t appreciate the bright ones,” said Errol Spence Jr on Instagram to Teofimo Lopez.
It’s unknown if the 25-year-old Teofimo will return to the ring because he’s pretty upset about his life at the moment, and he doesn’t feel appreciated for what he’s done in his career.
It would be better for Teofimo not to stay out of the ring for too long because the 140-lb division is a strong one, and there are going to be talented fighters from the 135-lb weight class that will move up and take over the division.
The reaction from fans to Teofimo’s retirement is a mixed one. While some agree with Teo’s decision to walk away at an early age, others see it as a case of his fleeing to avoid having to take on these talented fighters:
- Regis Prograis
- Devin Haney
- Ryan Garcia
- Subriel Matias.
Those are the killers in the 140-lb division, and it’s understandable if Teofimo would prefer retirement rather than staying around to fight them.
Spence must attack Crawford’s body
“Why Spence? Body placements. He has to go. I don’t think I’ve ever seen really someone go as much onto Crawford with the body,” said Teofimo Lopez to the media on why he’s picking Errol Spence to defeat Terence Crawford on July 29th.
“They always go for the head, and that’s Crawford’s game right there. You try to go for his head, and he’s going to tag you down.
“So for that being said, that’s why [Spence will win]. He’s a body puncher. The body stops the whole and changes the whole game. It shuts your whole belly button all the way down, waist down. It shuts you down.
“Counterpunching, you can have all of that, but the moment that you do, the moment you start going to the body, you lose that too. You’ll have a counter-punch, but it’s not as quick enough, it’s not effective enough, it’s not sharp enough.
“Yeah, after the fifth round, I said, ‘I got to start going to the body,’ and that’s what changed the fight for me,” said Teofimo when asked whether his body punching won him the fight against WBO light welterweight champion Josh Taylor last Saturday night.
“Spence-Crawford, whoever wins this fight is the face of boxing, and that’s how it should be. Not no social media face of boxing, but actual legitimate boxing,” said Teofimo in taking a shot at Gervonta Davis.
“We got the big guy, the unified champion in Errol Spence, and then we got the WBO champion in Crawford. I think they’re fighting for the Ring Magazine as well, if I’m not mistaken, which will also be a great accolade for these fighters,” said Teofimo.
