Championship belts might be of importance to Teofimo Lopez Sr., but according to the talkative father and trainer of Teofimo Lopez, the numbers simply aren't adding up.
After eking out a somewhat controversial victory over Sandor Martin in his last outing, Lopez was perched comfortably in the second slot in the WBC rankings at 140 pounds. Jose Ramirez, a former unified champion, opted against taking on current title holder, Regis Prograis. With the highly ranked contender bellyaching over the split of the financial pie, he abruptly walked away.
Lopez, being next up, has openly called for a showdown against Prograis. However, after giving it further thought, team Lopez, for the exact reasons as team Ramirez, has revealed that Prograis will have to look elsewhere to defend his WBC crown.
“Regis is not gonna happen bro,” said Lopez Sr. to krikya360.com. “What we're gonna get? 35%? There ain’t no money in that fight.”
Prior to Lopez Sr. making his declaration, Ramirez fulminated over receiving 35% of the monetary split. Team Lopez, similarly, isn’t interested in entering the ring against the dangerous knockout puncher for that exact number either.
Prograis, 34, has reeled off four consecutive stoppage victories since suffering his lone defeat at the hands of Josh Taylor in 2019. Following an 11th-round knockout win against Jose Zepeda at the tail end of 2022, Prograis once again wrapped his waist with championship gold. In doing so, the New Orleans native has urged the division’s top contenders, along with his fellow champions, to step up to the plate and face him.
Although team Lopez has perpetually shown an interest in taking Prograis up on his audacious offer, until the dollar signs begin to make sense, Lopez Sr. simply won’t allow his son to move forward with their mouth watering bout.
“Why are we going to fight Regis Prograis when we aren't going to get the money that we're supposed to get?”