Teofimo Lopez has been training with Canelo Alvarez and trainer Eddy Reynoso this week, looking 170+ lb. in what some fans believe is preparation to move up to 154 to take on the big dog, Terence Crawford.
Lopez Sr. Absent: A move to team Canelo?
Interestingly, two-division world champion Teofimo’s father, Lopez Sr, is nowhere to be seen during Teo’s training sessions with Canelo and Reynoso. There is speculation that he will train with Team Canelo from now on and try to make a fresh start at 147 or 154, where a lot of money fights are available.
Reynoso and Canelo have a lot of work to do with Teofimo if they want to get him ready to take on killers at welterweight or junior middleweight.
If Teofimo the WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. to challenge for his belt, he needs to be rebuilt from the ground up because the 23-year-old will be a nightmare.
Teo needs a complete overhaul if he moves to 147 or junior middleweight. Even if Teofimo stays at 140, he needs a lot of work as he is floundering in the division and looks ready to be beaten again.
154: A land of opportunity
Moving up to 154 would be a better option for Teofimo if the idea is to expand his pool of opposition, which would bring in the money. If Teo can move up to 154, he will have these fighters at his disposal:
– Terence Crawford
– Errol Spence
– Sebastian Fundora
– Vergil Ortiz Jr.
– Tim Tszyu
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Israel Madrimov
Teofimo looked weak in his last two fights against Steve Claggett and Jamaine Ortiz. Those performances showed that Teo is either struggling at weight or he is on the downswing of the wars he has at 135 against Vasily Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr.
140: A Dead End
It’s pretty obvious that 140 is a dead end for 27-year-old Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs), all the big fish gone from this little lake, leaving it just a sewer filled with fighters with no name, and opposition that will do nothing for Teo’s career.
Lopez called Crawford, but with no luck. However, Crawford needs a big-name opponent to bring in the cash, and it doesn’t look like he’s getting the Canelo mega-payday he’s been campaigning to get.
The 154-pounder is too dangerous and young for Crawford. He’s not going to mess with any of them and let one finish the job Israil Madrimov started on August 3rd.
