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Teofimo Lopez, the junior welterweight titlist and former unified lightweight champion, has expressed his displeasure at the meager purse offered for a potential bout with Ryan Garcia. Speaking at the David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade card in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Lopez revealed that he turned down an offer to face Garcia early next year due to what he considered an inadequate compensation, far below his market value.
While the specifics of the offer, including its origin, remained undisclosed, Lopez disclosed that he was presented with a $1.5 million purse. However, he refrained from elaborating on whether the proposal came from his promoter, Top Rank, or Garcia's promoter, Golden Boy, headed by Oscar De La Hoya.
Oscar De La Hoya had previously expressed interest in arranging a Garcia vs. Lopez showdown for February, coinciding with Super Bowl weekend—an idea endorsed by Top Rank's Bob Arum.
In response to the offer, Lopez, known for his candidness, stated, "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—f--k you. So yeah, I declined the offer."
Pressed for details on his future plans, Lopez provided a cryptic response, saying, "What's next for me is worldwide takeover, that's what's next." He expressed a desire to expand his reach globally, mentioning plans to visit Italy and other locations, emphasizing his intention to go beyond traditional boxing avenues.
Lopez, with a record of 19-1 and 13 knockouts, recently conveyed to BoxingScene.com that he has no immediate plans to return to the ring, citing unmet demands and inadequate returns. In a viral social media post, he asserted that collecting garbage pays better than boxing.
This perplexing behavior follows one of Lopez's career-best victories—a decisive decision over Josh Taylor in June, capturing Taylor's WBO 140-pound title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Despite silencing his critics with the win, Lopez stirred controversy by hinting at retirement immediately afterward.
On the other side, Ryan Garcia, boasting a record of 23-1 with 19 knockouts, is gearing up for his 140-pound debut against Oscar Duarte at the Toyota Center in Houston next week. Garcia is looking to bounce back from a high-profile loss to Gervonta Davis in April.