WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez is days away from making his first title defense against Jamaine Ortiz on February 8th in Las Vegas.
Lopez captured the title in June of 2023 with a dominant decision win over Josh Taylor.
Beyond the fight with Ortiz, Lopez has several opponents in mind for the future.
He wants to eventually get in the ring with WBC champion Devin Haney for a unification clash, but he’s also interested in moving up to challenge welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
And, Lopez would still like the opportunity to avenge his sole career defeat, which came at the hands of George Kambosos in November of 2021.
“There are lots of people mentioning my name, but it’s all strategic moves. I’ve had this before with George Kambosos, but now I have the experience. That’s why it’s great to have those L’s on my record, it’s great because it’s not a loss, it’s a learned lesson, because now I know why focus is important from a mentality point of view. My focus has only been on Ortiz, just last night I was film studying him,” Lopez said to Fruity Slots.
“The talk about the other names is just nonsense for me right now. I’m blocking the noise. Do I want to face Haney and Crawford? Absolutely! But my first task is Ortiz. Crawford says he’s just travelling this year and I wish him the best, but may we meet eventually. I don’t want to name the names of who I want to fight because honestly, I’m bigger than all of them and they know it. But I’m going to avenge that loss to Kambosos, I’m telling you that. If that presents itself in the ring. That man better have bodyguards.”