Oscar Caberra Boxing Contributor
Teofimo Lopez has made headlines again by stepping away from negotiations for a highly anticipated clash with Devin Haney, citing financial dissatisfaction. Lopez, who has an impressive résumé with victories over Vasily Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, has reportedly rejected an $11 million offer, drawing comparisons to the $20 million payday Ryan Garcia received for facing Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.
According to boxing analyst Tim Bradley, Lopez’s decision is more than a mere “duck”; it’s a calculated power play. “Teofimo knows his worth. He’s done more in the sport than Garcia, and he’s standing his ground for a better deal,” Bradley remarked.
Bradley emphasized that Lopez isn’t intimidated by Haney, whose recent performances have lacked the spark to draw pay-per-view attention. Instead, Lopez is leveraging his accomplishments to demand equitable pay. The situation underscores a broader trend in boxing where financial clout often overshadows sporting merit.
“Ryan’s social media presence and marketability won him a bigger purse, but Teofimo’s career achievements speak volumes,” Bradley noted. Whether Lopez’s strategy will yield a more lucrative deal or leave him sidelined remains to be seen, but his firm stance has ignited debate about fairness and star power in boxing economics.
