BoxRec

Teofimo Lopez Returns To ESPN PPV On Oct. 2 After Top Rank Contract Amended

Teofimo Lopez Jr.’s relationship and future with Top Rank has been restored.

ESPN announced during the Shakur Stevenson vs. Jeremiah Nakathila undercard broadcast on Saturday that Top Rank and Lopez have amended their original five-year contract that runs until the end of 2023, and the plan is for Lopez to return back to the platform and fight on an ESPN+ pay-per-view on Oct. 2.

The amended contract also calls for Lopez to earn higher minimum purses moving forward.

The IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC franchise champion Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) next fights George Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs) on Triller PPV on June 19 at the LoanDepot Park in Miami.

The February purse bid for that fight started the beef between Lopez and Top Rank when promoter Bob Arum insisted the fight was not a premium contest and underbid for it.

His stance opened the door for boxing upstart Triller to showcase the clash on its platform when it paid $6,018,000 for the fight, besting Top Rank’s offer of $2,315,000. Even Matchroom Boxing ($3,506,000) offered more than Top Rank.

In recent months, the relations between both sides have been frosty, but ultimately, cooler heads prevailed once Top Rank and Lopez manager David McWater of Split-T management hammered out a new deal.

Lopez first has to get through Kambosos to cash in on his PPV promise.

Arum and company could entertain the idea of staging an undisputed lightweight fight between WBC champion Devin Haney and Lopez, a Lopez rematch with Lomachenko, or a fight with undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor should the 23-year-old decide to move up to the 140-pound division

Arum has said the PPV has to be a rematch with Loma.

Or even a Haney fight.

Teo probably realised, Triller ain’t gonna do shït going forward.

Kambosos coming in under the radar, getting little respect.

ironbeard wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 10:49 Kambosos coming in under the radar, getting little respect.

Teo has been doing this since he beat Loma.

No respect for the opponent you’re about to defend your belts against.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 10:50

ironbeard wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 10:49 Kambosos coming in under the radar, getting little respect.

Teo has been doing this since he beat Loma.

No respect for the opponent you’re about to defend your belts against.

Teo has been acting like he thinks he’s Canelo, except Canelo does not disrespect his opponents like Teo has Kambosos.

Anyone extending their contract with Top Rank worries me.

I fear that Lopez, like many other fighters before him, will regret his decision.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 11:17 Anyone extending their contract with Top Rank worries me.

I fear that Lopez, like many other fighters before him, will regret his decision.

Your fear is well founded.

i don think its as bad as craws situation, no other promoter owns 135 like pbc does 147, and top rank has a solid group at 140 too

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 10:50

ironbeard wrote: ↑13 Jun 2021, 10:49 Kambosos coming in under the radar, getting little respect.

Teo has been doing this since he beat Loma.

No respect for the opponent you’re about to defend your belts against.

To be fair Kambosos isnt very good. And teo dosent have to pretend he is cause he dosent have to sell a PPV cause he is already paid.

Wonder if he’ll still fight October or will that be postponed