Teofimo Lopez apparently has zero qualms describing his next fight in disturbingly mortal terms.
In a recent interview, the former unified lightweight champion and current junior welterweight contender offered a bald, stomach-churning assessment of his upcoming fight against WBO 140-pound titlist Josh Taylor of Scotland on June 10 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Describing the nature of boxing as a “kill or be killed” pursuit, Lopez refused to sugarcoat his upcoming fight with Lopez as anything less than a lethal zero-sum outcome. Lopez also referenced the recent death of 22-year-old Filipino boxer Kenneth Egano, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the ring.
“This is a kill or be killed sport,” Lopez told Punsh Drunk Boxing. “I mean someone just passed away [on] May 6th—kid was 22 years old—just passed away, and I said it like it is.
“I want to kill Josh Taylor. What the f— does that mean? People, [tell me], like, ‘Let’s get back to boxing.’ But that is boxing. That is what we signed up for. You’re probably going to lose your life. What does that mean? If I’mma die in that ring, at least I’mma die with some dignity and some integrity. I went out there like a warrior and the champs that we are. That’s what I know. That’s what I signed up for. Boxing today is the gladiator days back then. A lot of people don’t know that because they don’t know boxing.”
This is not the first time Lopez has said something controversial. Last month he was heavily criticized for suggesting that his promoter, Top Rank, was favoring Black fighters over him, a remark that many perceived as racist.
“When I fought [Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020], I took his heart, especially in that 12th round … boom, I won the fight,” Lopez said. “With Taylor, he don’t got no heart. So what can I really take from this man? His life. His life. The only way I’mma make a statement is by doing that. I’m not sorry about that.”
“I know people are going to twist my words again on this one,” Lopez continued. “But you know something? I don’t give a flying f—. I don’t care because this is the sport that we are in. and it sucks to see so many pass away, especially some young ones.”
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.