Teofimo Lopez, the WBO super-lightweight champion, is facing accusations of dodging fights with unbeaten boxers, including Keyshawn Davis.
Lopez, a 27-year-old fighter from Brooklyn, New York, has recently defended his title against Arnold Barboza Jr. The champion, known as "The Takeover," won that fight by unanimous decision last month.
But Lopez's recent actions have raised eyebrows in the boxing world. He was set to face Devin Haney, the former undisputed lightweight champion, in August. Despite reports that the fight was signed, it fell through at the last minute.
Now, WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis has added fuel to the fire. On the Cigar Talk podcast, Davis shared a story about a recent meeting with fight promoter Turki Alalshikh.
"Alalshikh asked me who I wanted to fight. I said Lopez. He called him right there. At first, Lopez was eager to talk. But when he found out it was me, his whole attitude changed. He started insisting on fighting Jaron Boots Ennis instead. Alalshikh even offered him the same money to fight me, but he refused. That's scared. F**k ducking, literally you are scared to fight me, bro."
This account paints a picture of Lopez actively avoiding a showdown with Davis. The story got picked up on social media, with Twitter user Naji (@NajiChill) sharing:
"Keyshawn Davis tells a crazy story when he first met @Turki_alalshikh and he put him on FaceTime with Teofimo Lopez. Says Teo was scared to fight him ???? New episode of Cigar Talk out right now. Great episode tune in."
While Lopez seems to be avoiding certain opponents, Davis is gearing up for his first title defense. He'll face Edwin De Los Santos this weekend in Norfolk, Virginia.
The boxing world will be watching closely to see how Lopez responds to these accusations and who he chooses to fight next. Will he step up to face Davis or continue to pursue other opponents? Only time will tell.
