WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez says he is in talks to fight a unification match with IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins next.
Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) will move up to 147 and challenge IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in October on the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If Lopez wins over Ennis, he will face the winner of Garcia-Haney 2 in February 2026 in Riyadh.
Lopez-Hitchins integration
Lopez is not saying he has to win the unification fight for Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) as a condition for him to face Boot Ennis in October. However, it is possible that Turki Al-Sheikh will still allow Teofimo to face Ennis in October, even if Richardson defeats him because he is good with fighters backing up big fights after losing.
What could be a problem is if Teofimo is beaten by Hitchins and loses in a humiliating way, it will spoil the fight between him and Boots in October. There is a very good chance that Hitchins will dominate Teofimo and make him look worse than George Kambosos Jr, Sandor Martin, and Jamaine Ortiz all. Does Turki still want to use Teo in October to put him in the ring with Boot Ennis?
That would be like winning defeat. Lopez has looked awful in his last two fights against Steve Claggett and Jamaine Ortiz with seven losses. Fans strongly believe that Lopez has the talent to take the decision against Jamaine, and the same goes for his fight with Sandor Martin.
“I’m looking forward to a very productive year. We have received a three-fight deal that is yet to be revealed, but we are looking forward to announcing it soon,” said Teofimo Lopez speaking to Fight Hub TV about his signing with Turki Al-Sheikh.
“Yes, it looks like that, yes,” said Teofimo when he heard about Turki that he will fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in October, and if he wins. will face the winner of the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 in February 2026. “Yes, we are looking forward to it. It’s all about fighting for the best, and we’re here to be strong.
“The thing now is that we win our next battles, that’s how it is. That’s as close as it’s ever been,” said Lopez when asked how close he is to fighting Boot Ennis. “From 140 to 147. We are currently talking to [IBF light welterweight champion] Richardson Hitchins. We will unite.”
I don’t see Lopez’s three-fight deal with Al-Sheikh ending well. Teo will gain the money but could lose to Richardson next and look like a chum tossed to a hungry shark in October, when he faces IBF welterweight champion Boot Ennis.
Turki plans for the losers of the October card to meet in February in a consolation fight in Riyadh. We will probably see Teofimo against Haney, with both their careers on thin ice.
The way to 147
“So, two world title fights [Hitchins & Ennis] line them up and it’s a prize fight. So, we found a good plan,” said Teofimo. “Yes, we [Hitchins and Teo] let’s get to know each other. Yes, we are looking forward to good things right now. Stay tuned. Soon,” said Lopez when asked when his fight with Hitchins will take place. That’s the beauty of it. We’re doing everything right now. That’s the goal. Getting everything done and completed. My legal team is doing a good job, that’s all.”
The way Richardson Hitchins dominated IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro last month on December 7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will beat Teofimo and expose him as a washed-up champion. Lopez has been looking up since his loss to Kambosos Jr. in 2021, and has continued to look bad in back-to-back games over the past four years. Teo was heavily punished in his 2020 win over Vasily Lomachenko, and it hasn’t been the same since.
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