Teofimo Lopez has called out Terence Crawford less than 24 hours after the American vacated his welterweight belt.
Teofimo Lopez is looking for his next bout but isn’t taking the first option that comes to him.
Lopez recently rejected the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden on September 27 against WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr, claiming that there are ‘bigger fish to fry’.
One of those he is eyeing up in the pond is none other than Terence Crawford.
Teofimo Lopez makes Terence Crawford proposal
Crawford recently claimed the WBA light-middleweight crown in his victory against Israil Madrimov but decided to vacate his belt, promoting the aforementioned Norman Jr from interim to full world champion.
The Nebraska-born 36-year-old has instead chosen to continue to compete at junior middleweight
Speaking to Boxing Scene, he said: “Now that we have Riyadh Season in the mix, why can’t we make a Crawford and Teofimo fight happen? We’re in the house now. Make it happen.
“Absolutely I can [move up to 154 pounds]. And I will. Just send me the date. I am walking at 155 pounds right now. I can fight Crawford right now.
“I didn’t expect for age to catch up with Crawford so quickly [against Madrimov]. But to each his own. I wasn’t Terence Crawford in that fight. I’m Teofimo and I look forward to facing him in the coming year.”
Teofimo Lopez and Terence Crawford’s previous comments hint that fight could take place
Lopez and Crawford have previously been involved in a war of words when the 27-year-old claimed he would be willing to fight the 36-year-old at a catchweight before claiming he would ‘destroy’ his career.
As expected Crawford retaliated, saying: “Your little b*** a** better worry about them little guys that’s on yo ass down there in yo weight class.”
What other options does Terence Crawford have?
“Bud’s” win against Madrimov secured his status as a pound-for-pound great and despite Monday’s news in which he revealed he would be vacating his belt, will still have a plethora of options.
The likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Vergil Ortiz and Jaron Ennis have all been mentioned.
Canelo seems the most unlikely though after Turki Alalshikh declared that the Mexican was scared of facing Crawford.
He told Fight Hub TV: “If he (Canelo Alvarez) is a wise guy, he will get the message. If he is wise, he will understand, but if his ego gets the better of him, let him do things his way.
“I wasn’t the one who started talking about these things, he was the one who started talking about these things. He said he respects me, but he doesn’t like the things I’m doing in boxing. That’s why I said what I said, and I really mean it.
“If other promoters spoke to him (Canelo Alvarez) in a disrespectful way, that’s between him and the promoter. It’s not with me. But he responded to me.”