Teofimo Lopez – a two-weight world champion at 26 – is fast-becoming a loud voice on the business side of boxing.
The Brooklyn native handed Josh Taylor his first loss earlier this year to become WBO Super-lightweight World Champion, building on a legacy that already includes dethroning Vasily Lomachenko for the unified belts one division down.
Whilst he contemplates his next move, he’s been giving out advice to his fellow fighters – and one Frank Martin found himself in the spotlight.
The 18-0 southpaw recently made headlines after he was ordered to fight Shakur Stevenson for the vacant lightweight WBC belt.
The deal was refused at the last minute, much to Stevenson’s distaste, who claimed Martin had ‘ducked’ by pricing himself out. Martin vehemently denied the allegations.
Speaking to Pro Box TV, Lopez agreed that ‘The Ghost’ was asking for too much money. He warned the 28-year-old that he wouldn’t get another opportunity like that for some time.
“Don’t [price] yourself out like Frank Martin did. No-one’s gonna work with that kid. That guy’s not gonna get a world title shot for a while – for a fat minute. I promise you.
If Al Haymon doesn’t have anything lined up for that kid like maybe Tank or a belt for him, that kid is not gonna have anything.”
“If you wanna be like Frank Martin, good luck in the sport cause you’re gonna have it hard. You only call the shots once you got a little but going. Some awards – prospect of the year – a Ring Magazine belt, something of that sort.
You gotta have some prize possession, then you can call your shot a little bit more. But these guys don’t understand that.”
Stevenson will instead compete for the vacant title against Edwin De Los Santos on November 16.