Teofimo Lopez’s next fight could be a shot at the vacant IBF world title, with reports from Ring Magazine and Boxing Scene both indicating that the 28-year-old fighter will be the fighter who benefits most from Richardson Hitchins relinquishing the strap.
Scheduled for a world title defense against Oscar Duarte in February, the American fighter Hitchins canceled the bout after falling ill. Duarte now fights Angel Fierro on May 2, instead.
Lopez, meanwhile, is one of the sport’s better-known fighters because of his wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, but was recently trounced in a lopsided 12-round loss to Shakur Stevenson.
Despite the defeat — the second of his career — the IBF ranks him as the fifth-best fighter, and the highest available to fight Delgado, per reports.
Lopez, though, had been linked with a move to welterweight. The 147-pound division, after all, has a number of fighters Lopez could fight either for a belt, or a payday from Devin Haney to Conor Benn.
There is an incentive now for Lopez to stay at super lightweight for at least one more fight, box Delgado and, should he beat Lindolfo, either defend the championship or vacate it himself before making the move to 147 that he intended to prior to the IBF ordering this fight.
With Delgado as the No.1-ranked fighter at the IBF, the sanctioning body would typically go to the second-best fighter. But there is no fighter currently rated at that position.
No.3, Duarte, has a fight already booked. As does Keyshawn Davis, who takes on Nahir Albright at the Scope Arena in Norfolk on May 16.
Lopez at No.5 is the highest-ranked fighter in the IBF’s top-15 who is free to pursue a title shot.
