Theofimo Lopez’s next battle of WBO Light Welterweight is planned for Alcatraz -Island in the San Francisco vicinity for June or July. It would be part of TheOFIMO’s three-match agreement with Turki al-Sheikh.
If Teo is going to fight in the San Francisco area, Devin Haney would make the most sense. He was born in that city and in December 2023 brought a large crowd for his fight against Regis Prograis in the Chase Center. Teo is perhaps too dangerous for Haney to fight, and he is supposed to fight against Jose Ramirez in May.
The Alcatraz angle
I have been to Alcatraz many times and grew up in the nearby Emeryville area. Getting a large crowd there would require a lot of ferry trips, as the vessels have a seat capacity of 700.
I assume that the fight will be staged in the training yard unless they want to place outside the prison area. The view of the bay is outstanding, and Angel Island is close.
It is not the ideal location for Theofimo (21-1, 13 COs) to fight a unification against IBF 140-Pond Champion Richardson HitchinsLike both from Brooklyn, New York. The performance of that fight on the West Coast would move away from their fanbase. Theofimo’s East Coast speech would be hacked on the West Coast fans, who have time to understand what he chats about. He has a way of daring that fans in California would consider a stranger.
It could be a nightmare for theofimo if he fights against Hitchins in Alcatraz. If he is losing, which is an excellent chance that he will do so he will stove on the loss While taking the ferry back to the mainland of San Francisco. It would be a depressing journey back. If it was another Steve Claggett that thee would expect to fight, it would be a scenic location to fight.
Many fans expect Hitchins to be too good for TEO, which has been a spiritual basket case in four out of its last six fights since 2021. He has fallen apart since his victory over Vasily Lomachenko in 2020. I’m surprised Turki wanted to sign him to an agreement. If it was 2020, it would be for Turki to sign him, but Theofimo had like a Space box Since. That Loma fight took something out of him.
Hitchins is expected to be the first battle for Theofimo, which would then lead to a collision against IBF Welterweight Champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in October, and then finally a match in early 2026 against the winner or loser of the Ryan Garcia against Devin Haney 2 Rematch. The most likely scenario is that theofimo is fighting against the loser of the Garcia-Haney Rematch in a loser’s bracket.
– Turki Alalshikh (@turki_alshikh) 12 February 2025
Last updated on 02/11/2025
