Teofimo Lopez has confirmed that he has rejected a $1.5 Million offer from Golden Boy Promotions to Ryan Garcia, suggesting that the offer was unsatisfactory.
Speaking to reporters in Las Vegas as he attended this past weekend’s super-middleweight clash between David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade, he confirmed that he had received an offer to face Garcia.
Reporting from boxingscene.com indicates that Lopez was not forthcoming with further information regarding the offer and where it originated from regarding a direct offer from Golden Boy Promotions or if it was communicated via his promoters, Top Rank Inc.
Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya spoke last week regarding his desire to create a ‘Super Bowl of Boxing’ with Garcia possibly challenging Lopez for his WBO world title as part of the bill. Bob Arum was open to working with De La Hoya in the future and did not rule out a possible match-up between Lopez (19-1, 13KOs) and Garcia (23-1, 19KOs).
Lopez would claim the WBO crown following a comprehensive victory over former undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor in June at the MSG, New York theatre.
After victory over Taylor, Lopez announced his retirement, the reverse of his retirement decision, and was upgraded to ‘super champion’ status by the WBO, which the WBO confirmed in September.
Speaking to Boxing News, Lopez cited his reasons for rejecting the offer to fight Garcia.
“When you’re the best, when you are the guy, when you bring major sponsors, endorsements, big major business deals, when you offer me a 1.5 [million dollars] stake in the piece—fuck you,” Lopez told Boxing News. “So yeah I declined the offer.”
Lopez was asked to clarify his comments, but instead of giving a straight answer, he replied cryptically instead.
“What’s next for me is worldwide takeover, that’s what’s next,” Lopez said. “I want to go to Italy, I want to take it to other places in different ways. I got a lot of fan base in Africa, too, I want to go out there. My whole thing is taking it global because nobody else is going to help me in the boxing game no more.”
Lopez spoke with ProBox TV in an extended interview last month and revealed that he would only be enticed back to the ring if he faced Gervonta Davis, George Kambosos Jr. and Ryan Garcia.
