Teofimo Lopez, the WBO super lightweight champion, is stirring up controversy with his recent comments about Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. The 27-year-old boxer, known as "The Takeover," has found himself at odds with both fighters for different reasons.
Lopez was originally set to train with Canelo under the guidance of Eddy Reynoso, the 2021 Manager of the Year award winner. However, these plans fell through due to logistical issues, leaving Lopez disappointed.
In a recent Instagram Live broadcast, fans pressed Lopez about who he'd support in the upcoming Canelo-Crawford fight in September. Surprisingly, Lopez voiced his support for Crawford:
"I'm going to go for Crawford because let's say he beats Canelo, I have ammunition. So when I fight him, I beat Crawford... I beat Canelo"
This statement came as a shock, considering Lopez's previous alliance with Canelo. Lopez didn't stop there, though. He went on to criticize Canelo's team, saying:
"Canelo's team doesn't want Teofimo. It's not our fault. It's what the champion wants"
Lopez also took a subtle jab at Canelo's recent performance against William Scull on May 3, which many fans found boring. Without naming names, Lopez said:
"I don't want to be heavy, to be caught off guard. I'm a boxer. And a very good one"
Despite supporting Crawford in the upcoming fight, Lopez's relationship with the undisputed two-division champion is far from friendly. The two have a history of confrontations, including a heated exchange at the Garcia vs Romero weigh-in where Crawford shouted at a member of Lopez's team:
"Shut up, before you get your ass whooped!" and "Shut up, bitch!"
Their feud dates back to a confrontation in Riyadh, where Crawford confronted Lopez about past comments. Lopez admitted he made those comments 'to promote himself.' Some of Lopez's previous statements about Crawford have been controversial and racially tinged, including:
"The monkey wants the banana. They are gorillas. I am a lion"
Lopez's recent victory over Arnold Barboza Jr. on May 2 in Times Square seems to have emboldened him. He's now positioning himself as a potential future opponent for both Canelo and Crawford, using the tension between them to his advantage.
As the boxing world gears up for the Canelo-Crawford showdown in September, Lopez's comments add another layer of drama to an already compelling matchup. Whether his strategy of playing both sides will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure - Teofimo Lopez isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the process.
