WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, has once again laid out his ambitions of taking on a pound-for-pound star, as his fellow 140lb contenders continue to avoid taking on one another.
Lopez became unified champion at lightweight before a loss to George Kambosos Jr prompted a move up in weight, but within three fights Lopez reclaimed his world championship status by beating Josh Taylor, the previously undefeated poster boy of the division.
Now Lopez seeks to replicate his 135lb success in the super-lightweight division, but has had difficulties securing contests against his fellow champions, Subriel Matias [IBF], Devin Haney [WBC] and Rolando Romero [WBA].
Instead, ‘The Takeover’ says that he would be willing to move up once again, in order to face proposed pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford, who may have also been left without a fight after the reported collapse of his rematch against Errol Spence Jr.
First Lopez must make his maiden defence of the WBO title, as he takes on Jamaine Ortiz in two weeks’ time, and although he seems determined to remain focused on that contest, he has admitted that he is in hot pursuit of Crawford, Boxing Scene reports.
“Do I want Crawford? Absolutely.
“I aim for greatness. What is that? Fighting the best. Crawford says he’s the best, I know I’m the best, let’s make the fight happen.
“First things first though, we got to knock this guy out the way. He’s in front of me, Jamaine Ortiz.”
Lopez-Ortiz takes place on Thursday February 8th, ahead of Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, with Keyshawn Davis facing two-division world champion Jose Pedraza on the undercard.
