New York – Teofimo Lopez recognizes why skeptics think he shouldn’t face Jaron Ennis.
Ennis, from Philadelphia, is a weighing weight of an entire career whose chin has stood up with greater fighters than Lopez without incident. Ennis, larger and longer, also seems physically equipped to thrive in the Division of Super Welters weights, two categories above that where Lopez has evolved in the last two and a half years.
Lopez likes challenges, however, and the Junior Welterweight champion of The Ring and WBO wishes to compete with another elite level like Ennis. The opportunity to become champion in a third division also attracts Lopez, 27, who could add a third ring belt to his record if he came to overthrow Ennis (34-0, 30 kos, 1 NC).
Lopez (22-1, 13 Kos), from Las Vegas, also considers Rolando “Rolly” Romero as a potential opponent, now that the ex-WBA super light champion has turned upside down Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 Kos, 1 NC) in the main event of the card “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” of The Ring on Friday evening in Times Square.
Lopez, who defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 kos) unanimously at points on Friday evening, clarified during his press conference after the fight that challenging Ennis for his Ring, Ibf and WBA Welters belts is his preference in relation to fighting Romero (17-2, 13 kos).
“I don’t know. It’s my team. It’s for everyone,” said Lopez. “I think Rolly clearly mentioned earlier in the press conference that he always wanted to see Garcia and [Devin] Haney fight, whatever. And it is to him at this point. I asked for what I want to continue, and it’s Jaron Ennis, ‘Boots’. Many people think I’m too small for that, but it’s not about who is the smallest. It is about who is the smartest. And I think I have all the tools to [réclamer] Three divisions of the linear world title. “
-Ennis is more interested in the total unification of Welters titles. Realizing this would require that the 27-year-old champion WBC Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 kos) and WBO champion Brian Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 Kos, 1 NC).
Norman, from Conyers, in Georgia, must defend its optional title against the Japanese Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 Kos) on June 19 at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo. Barrios, from San Antonio, could face Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 kos) in July, if Philippine legend leaves her retirement.
Ennis plans to return to the ring in October. His promoter, Eddie Hearn de MatchRoom Boxing, has already had preliminary discussions with Norman officials to organize this fight. Norman must defeat Sasaki.
Lopez hopes to change his mind and will seriously plan to face it instead.
“I have this champion mentality, as you can see here on the table,” said Lopez, pointing to the champion’s belts displayed on the canopy. “If he is champion, as he says, and he won his first world title Ring Magazine, I think he is certainly looking forward to defending him. I hope.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer and a columnist for The Ring. It can be contacted on X @idecboxing.
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