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 reportedly want Teofimo to fight good opposition, which will be risky because he has looked vulnerable in many of his fights over the past four years. He turned down a fight against Subriel Matias recently and Devin Haney said there was an offer that Teo turned down.
Lopez did not want a rematch with George Campos Jr. after defeating him in 2021. This strange, self-destructive behavior prevented Teofimo from becoming more popular. Of course, taking those fights would have worked against Lopez as he would have lost them all, and it would be even worse now.
The Saudis want Teofimo right now while he’s still semi-popular, but if he misses all three games for them, he’ll be in the “who needs him” club. It will be on the scrap heap and any promoter wants to go dumpster diving for Teo. He would be like another Rolly Romero type fighter who is good at promoting his matches but unreliable inside the ring.
Three game deal
“The Saudis have come to us and talked about a three-game deal with Teofimo, which we really like. Now the ball is in Teofimo’s court to get his approval,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. Fighthype for Teofimo Lopez.
“The Saudis have stepped up to the plate, and as far as Top Rank is concerned, we are satisfied with the offer and the deal. Now, it’s up to Teofimo. I’ll be back in Vegas on Saturday and check with Teofimo and his people to see where he goes from there.
“We are talking to the Saudis (about Teofimo fighting IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins). We had a good relationship with Teo, but there comes a time when they want to fly a bit on their own. This is not unusual. It’s happening, but I think Teofimo will like the package that the Saudis have presented and we’ll move forward with him on that basis,” Arum said.
Teofimo’s career could be in the dust after his three-fight deal with the Saudis expires in early 2026, as there isn’t a single fight he has a good chance of winning between the three. If these are the three games Turki Al-Sheikh has for Lopez, he is unlikely to be given a new contact:
- Richardson Hitchins – summer
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis – October
- Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 winner or loser – February 2026
The Garcia-Haney 2 loser is the most profitable of those three for Teo. Over the past four years, we’ve seen what Lopez looked like in his fights with Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz, Sandor Martin and George Kambosos Jr. He’s not talented enough to get past Hitchins or Boots without losing at least one, if not two.
The consequences
The Saudis aren’t going to throw mega-millions at Teofimo after he’s gone 0-3 in their current contract. I could see Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom signing Lopez after ending his relationship with Turki and Top Rank. They just signed 36-year-old Liam Smith, 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 would 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 races.
Teofimo has been fighting steadily since his loss to Kambosos Jr. in 2021. Saved by the judges who save him Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin. Top Rank helped keep Teo from being thrown to the wolves by matching him with guys who would finish what Kambosos started.
