They may be rivals in the star-studded lightweight division, but three-belt champion Teofimo Lopez has proved that there is more to life than boxing.
The 23-year-old came out in support of Ryan Garcia who, at the weekend, withdrew from his July 9 fight against Javier Fortuna. Garcia said, “At this time it is important to manage my health and wellbeing. I have decided to take some time off to focus on becoming a stronger version of myself.”
The news came as a surprise to boxing fans around the world after it had emerged that the 22-year-old superstar has been suffering from mental health issues. Fortuna’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told leading boxing journalist Dan Rafael that Golden Boy President Eric Gomez had contacted to inform him of the news. “Eric called me this morning and said (Garcia) has mental health issues and that he decided not to fight.”
Lopez added his support to Garcia and praised him for speaking openly.
“It takes a brave soul to openly express that he’s going through tough times mentally. Instead of pointing the finger at him maybe you all should take a lesson from it! We’re all dealing with something so what makes us any better?”
It goes without saying that, along with the rest of the boxing community, everyone here at Boxing Social wishes Ryan Garcia a speedy recovery.