By Chris Williams: The WBO president Paco Valcarcel has confirmed that Teofimo Lopez has contacted him and vacated his light welterweight title today as part of his retirement from boxing.
Teofimo (19-1, 13 KOs) also holds the Ring Magazine 140-lb belt. He says he told Ring Magazine that he wants to vacate their belt as well, but they said he could hold onto their title for a year.
Teofimo vacating his WBO belt suggests that he’s serious about his retirement from the sport, but given his quirky, up & down moods, it’s likely he’ll come out of ‘retirement’ soon.
Hopefully, Teofimo doesn’t insist that he’s the true WBO 140-lb champion to undermine whoever holds the belt and give himself an imaginary title to build false credibility with the boxing public.
It’s bad enough that Teofimo gave himself a fake undisputed 140lb championship status last Saturday after his win over the shot-looking WBO champ Josh Taylor.
The WBO 140-lb title will now be fought over by the two highest-ranking available contenders from this list:
2. Arnold Barboza Jr
3. Jose Ramirez
4. Shohjahon Ergashev
5. Sandor Martin
6. Ryan Garcia
If the WBO can’t get two contenders willing to fight for the vacant 140-lb title, they’ll keep working down their top 15 ranking until they find someone.
However, the vacant WBO light welterweight belt will likely be fought over by #2 Arnold Barboza Jr and #3 Jose Ramirez, as they’re both with Top Rank, and it’s the fastest way for them to battle for a title.
Just now @TeofimoLopez is texting me that he relinquished his Jr welterweight title..We should respect his decision…If he come back, wbo doors will be always open for him..@pugboxing @DanRafael1 @JakeNDaBox @LoMejorDelBoxeo @MikeCoppinger @ChavaESPN @NotiFight @WorldBoxingOrg
— Paco Valcárcel, Esq. (@PacoValcarcel) June 15, 2023
Teofimo used a confusing scattergun explanation for his retirement, saying that he has too many people he has to fight against with the fighters, judges, and commentators from the networks.
It was the rambling of a paranoid-sounding individual who has a bitter & warped outlook on the sport. Although only 25, Teofimo’s caustic view of boxing resembles someone in their 70s.
The victim mentality that Teofimo has is disturbing, as he seems to think the world is against him. As such, his answer is to quit and disappear from the sport. Only he hasn’t done that.
He was hanging around during this week’s Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford press conferences, looking needy & desperate for attention from the media.
Teofimo is retiring because he feels he should be getting paid more money and he should be a more giant star along the levels of Gervonta Davis.
Top Rank stuck Teofimo in the small room with 5,600 seat capacity at the Hula Theater at Madison Square Garden rather than the big room of 19,000+ for his fight with Josh Taylor because he’s not a big enough draw.
