Teofimo Lopez Eyeing Free Agency Amid Top Rank Rift
Teofimo Lopez has his sights set on free agency as things are far from rosy between him and Top Rank Boxing.
Lopez is the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, The Ring, and WBC (Franchise) Lightweight Champion. He is riding a wave of momentum after scoring an upset unanimous decision win over Vasiliy Lomachenko. Despite being a Top Rank fighter, Lopez’s next fight will air on Triller pay-per-view. That’s because Top Rank lost a purse bid after failing to get Lopez and George Kambosos to agree on terms.
Reports have surfaced claiming that Lopez and Top Rank are at odds over pay. During his appearance on SiriusXM and DAZN’s The Ak & Barak Show, Lopez claimed that ESPN is none too pleased with Top Rank over the situation.
🎙️"I see myself within maybe this fight or my next fight, I'll be a free agent." — @TeofimoLopez outlines his future plans after #LopezKambosos and under which promotional banner they could be under 🔊@DAZNBoxing @BoxingwithAk @TheBoxingBully
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— SiriusXM Boxing (@SiriusXMBoxing) March 2, 2021
“ESPN knows my relationship with them and how much I love them and the platform. Of course they’re upset. They’re disappointed in Todd DuBoef and Top Rank. This is what happens, man. I look at it like this, I know what I’m worth. If they could’ve treated us with respect and they could’ve done this thing properly, like they should’ve as a business, then we wouldn’t be in this situation right now.”
Lopez went on to say that the reported email from Top Rank President Todd DuBeof to DAZN chiefs on his unhappiness with Matchroom Boxing’s purse bid has left the door open to get out of his contract.
“Yeah, I see myself within maybe this fight or my next fight, I’ll be a free agent. There’s so much proof for me to get out of this Top Rank contract that they gave me the golden ticket. Todd DuBoef gave me the golden ticket by doing so. They already dug a bigger hole than they needed to.
“The Takeover Promotions will be in effect and it’ll be Takeover Promotions times a network, god willing and that’s what I’m looking forward to. ESPN, PBC, Triller, the list could go on and on. DAZN, I mean there’s so many guys and I know that I bring all that to the platform.”