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Promoter Bob Arum revealed that the Saudis want to offer Teofimo Lopez a three-fight deal, which he likes. Arum says it’s up to Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) to give his “approval.”
They are said to want Teofimo to fight good opposition, which will be risky as he has looked vulnerable in many of his fights over the past four years. He recently turned down a fight against Subriel Matias and Devin Haney said there was an offer that Teo turned down.
Lopez did not want to go back to George Kambosos Jr. after beating him in 2021. This strange and self-destructive behavior has prevented Teofimo from becoming more popular. Of course, taking those fights would have worked against Lopez as he would have lost them all, and he would be even worse off now.
The Saudis want Teofimo right now while he’s still semi-popular, but if he loses all three fights for them, he’ll be in the “who needs him” club. He will be on the scrap heap, and the promoter who wants to go container diving for Teo. He would be like another Rolly Romero type of fighter who is good at promoting his fights but unreliable inside the ring.
Three fight deal
“The Saudis have come to us and talked to us about making a three-fight deal with Teofimo, who we like very much. The ball is now in Teofimo’s court to get his approval,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum Fighthype about Teófimo López.
“The Saudis have stepped up to the plate and as far as Top Rank is concerned, we’re happy with the offer and the arrangement. Now it’s Teofimo’s turn. I’ll be back in Las Vegas on Saturday, and I’ll be contacting Teofimo and his people to see where it goes from here.
“We’re talking to the Saudis (about Teofimo fighting IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins). We’ve had a good relationship with Teo, but there comes a time when they want to fly a bit on their own. That’s not unusual. It happens, but I think Teofimo will like the package that the Saudis have put forward, and we’ll move forward with him on that basis,” Arum said.
Teofimo’s career could be trashed after his three-fight deal with the Saudis expires in early 2026, as there is no fight he has a good chance of winning between the three. If these are the three fights Turki Al-Sheikh has with Lopez, it’s not likely they’ll give him a new contact:
- Richardson Hitchins – summer
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis – October
- Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 Winner or Loser – February 2026
Loser Garcia-Haney 2 is the most won of those three for Teo. In the last four years, we’ve seen how Lopez has fared in his fights against Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz, Sandor Martin and George Kambosos Jr. He doesn’t have enough talent to get past Hitchins or Boots without losing at least one if not two. .
The Consequences
The Saudis will not throw mega millions at Teofimo after he leaves 0-3 in your current contract. I could see Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom signing Lopez after his contact with Turki and Top Rank expired. They just signed Liam Smith, 36, who hasn’t fought in two years since 2023 and is coming off a knockout loss to Chris Eubank Jr.
If Matchroom were willing to sign Smith, they will be all over Teo and invest in a rebuilding job like they did with Anthony Joshua. It didn’t work with him, and it won’t be effective with Lopez if he’s coming off a three-game losing streak. It’s not just these three fights.
Teofimo has been fighting consistently since his loss to Kambosos Jr. in 2021. He was saved by the judges who rescued him. Jamaine Ortiz i Sandor Martin. Top Rank has helped Teo not throw him to the wolves by pitting him against guys who would finish what the Kambosos started.
