Teofimo Lopez has a tough test tonight as he makes his debut at super lightweight against the big hitting Mexican Pedro Campa.
If Lopez can come through the test that ‘Roca’ provides, then we could see him cross the pond and fight on UK shores for the first time.
The man who could make this happen isn’t Josh Taylor, who many expected to see ‘Teo’ face when moving up, but in fact a former opponent of the 140lb king, Ohara ‘Two Tanks’ Davies.
The WBA are looking for their new face of the super lightweight division, after Taylor vacated the belt. This left the organisation ordering number one ranked Puello to face the two ranked Batyr Akhmedov for the vacant strap, which will feature on the August 20 undercard of Adrien Broner’s return against Omar Figueroa Jr.
Alongside this, the WBA also revealed that Ohara Davies would face Sandor Martin in a final eliminator. The Spaniard rejected the offer, opting for a different route.
Martin, who handed Mikey Garcia his second career loss last October, took to Twitter to explain his reasons for declining the fight.
“@OharaDavies You are a nobody. The promoters and tv’s do not want to pay for you. I don’t wanna lose my time. I’m looking for real fights. Enjoy your position champ!”
@OharaDavies You are nobody. The promoters and tv’s do not want to pay for you. I don’t wanna lose my time, Im looking for real fights. Enjoy your position champ!
— Sandor Martin (@sandormartin) August 11, 2022
After Martin turned down the opportunity, it was next offered to 2016 silver Olympic medallist, Shakhram Giyasov. Yet it was reported first through Dan Rafael that the unbeaten Uzbek will not be accepting the fight.
“Update: Giyasov has declined the eliminator, says he can’t make weight. Next up the WBA will order Teofimo Lopez to face Davies if Teofimo wins Saturday.”
Update: Giyasov has declined this eliminator, says he can’t make weight. Next up WBA will order Teofimo Lopez to face Davies if Teofimo wins Saturday. https://t.co/IfbRVgs4MI
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 12, 2022
The tweet from the respected journalist prompted a response from Davies, making his intentions clear wanting the fight with the former unified lightweight champion.
Davies tweeted:
“@Teofimo Lopez got any plans later this year”
. @TeofimoLopez got any plans later this year? https://t.co/Wtjvaes5GA
— Ohara Davies (@OharaDavies) August 12, 2022
If Lopez accepts the eliminator, providing he beats Campa, then we could see the 25-year-old head to the UK for the bout.
Top Rank are looking to expand their brand into the British market, after signing a deal broadcast deal with Sky Sports as well as offering fighters like Taylor and Michael Conlan homecoming fights. It seems as though bringing one of boxing’s brightest stars to the UK would be a great way to do this.
Lopez has yet to given any indication that he would accept the fight, with the American staying focused on getting back into the win column after suffering his first career loss to George Kambosos Jr.
‘The Takeover’s fight with Pedro Campa will be shown live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Sunday morning.