Teofimo Lopez has vacated his light-welterweight world title less than a week after winning the belt by beating Josh Taylor.
Lopez, 25, announced his retirement after handing Taylor his first professional loss when the pair fought in New York last weekend. The American became a two-weight world champion by capturing Taylor's WBO belt and his retirement was questioned by many fans, but Lopez has proved he is serious about hanging up his gloves by opting to give up his newly-acclaimed belt.
“Just now Teofimo Lopez is texting me that he relinquished his Jr welterweight title," WBO President Paco Valcárcel tweeted. "We should respect his decision. If he comes back, WBO doors will be always open for him." Lopez responded to the statement by writing: “Thank you everyone for making the greatest moments in my career a great one! I am forever grateful for all of the sanctioning bodies in boxing for showing me I can and am more than boxing! What a career.”
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Lopez ends his career with an impressive record of 19-1, picking up wins against the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Richard Commey before his latest win against Taylor. The former unified lightweight champion lost his world titles in his first defence at the hands of George Kambosos Jr in 2021, a defeat he will be unable to try and avenge after hanging up his gloves.
The 25-year-old explained his decision to retire young when he told reporters: “Now just to steer it up, I might retire after this one. Retirement man, I'm kind of tired. I'm not getting paid enough, a million dollars? Get the f*** out of here. I need to take a break, I'm tired of everyone bullying me. I'm young, I'm a kid at heart. I think y'all need to go after the Devin Haney's, Shakur Stevenson's and Tyson Fury's.
Lopez faced heavy criticism for a vulgar pre-fight comment he made about wanting to "kill" Taylor in the ring, but he backtracked on these after the fight and issued an apology to Taylor. Lopez also butted heads with his dad in an explosive interview as the 25-year-old was questioned about a comment in which he told Top Rank to "keep their black fighters".
"Josh, I do want to say one thing. I think I let my emotions get the best of me. I do not want to take your life, I want you to go back to your family my man. I apologise as a man," Lopez said after his fight with Taylor, who then replied: "It's all fun and games, I never took it to heart anyway."
