His way: The true Teofimo Lopez 'Takeover' launches now

LAS VEGAS – He coined himself “The Takeover” before he truly knew what it meant.

Now that Teofimo Lopez has struck a unique, multi-fight union with his promotional company and DAZN, at a time he’s fighting for champion Rolly Romero’s WBA welterweight belt and the opportunity to move toward showdowns with fellow high-profile 147 champions, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, the time is now for a true takeover.

As the 29-year-old two-division champion chases a third division title Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in the main event of a DAZN/Prime Video pay-per-view card, Lopez, 22-2 (13 KOs), told BoxingScene Wednesday that his bold solo act is rooted in his quest to bet on himself. 

“Because of all of the things I’ve given to the sport, I felt all my dues were paid,” he said. “We did that deal with DAZN – first fighter to do that. We’re finally in the game. All we need to do is have this belt around our waist on August 22, then we get to really move forward on everything we have our eyes set on.”

Lopez estimates the value of his DAZN union at $20 million, a striking figure considering the Brooklyn fighter now residing in Las Vegas is coming off what was formerly considered boxing’s mortal sin – a loss.

That wide 140lbs WBO title defeat on the scorecards to unbeaten four-division champion  Shakur Stevenson on January 31 at Madison Square Garden was an uncharacteristic showing, one assessed as excusable given the ticket sales and widespread appeal of the bout.

“The work speaks for itself. You see everything in everything you do and how everything is looking,” Lopez said. “People bantered at me about my comments from everything on the culture side [regarding Stevenson-Lopez], but we broke records and surpassed by 1,000 tickets, the long-reigning attendance record from MSG, which was Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali I in 1971. Imagine that.”

Lopez said he had a bad feeling about remaining at the uncomfortable weight limit, fighting the uber-talented Stevenson – just like he knew before that he needed to part with promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank to achieve the maximum benefit of fighting independently.

“I’ve noticed that all my plans – even the ones that had a bitter taste to it – they all work,” Lopez said. “So with my legal team and everyone around me, we came together with a better plan for us, and that was to strike this deal directly. It [took] a lot of confidence, because you know where you’re heading [with past moves] isn’t the right direction.”

This being boxing, Lopez is no stranger to powerful results in isolated pursuits, and he’s risen to the challenge by knocking out Richard Commey in the second round of his first title fight, dealing two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasiliy Lomachenko his first pro defeat and also beating former undisputed 140lbs champion Josh Taylor for the first time.

He insists Saturday night will be a similar outcome.

“I believe so. I always go toward the fire. Never shy from it, never neglect it,” he said. “We’re here to help the next generation, and the only way that happens is by leading by example, and that happens August 22 against one of the biggest punchers at 147 right now: Rolando Romero.”

Lopez has heard all the common criticisms levelled at boxing over the years by fans, along with critiques of the sport voiced recently by the leaders of the new Zuffa Boxing.

Instead of joining Zuffa – he said the idea of going from a sold-out MSG to a smaller venue did nothing for him – he’s moved to change the tone of the sport by jumping at a quality fight, against a longtime industry friend in fellow two-division champion Romero, 17-2 (13 KOs).

During an in-ring interview at his brief media workout Wednesday at MGM Grand, Lopez said he never hesitated to move from the Stevenson loss directly to a move up in weight for a title bout, even though he only stopped one of his seven 140lbs foes. 

“The reason why is when you’re facing the best, the next thing to do is keep facing the best, and that’s Rolando Romero on Saturday night,” Lopez said. “The whole thing is about making the greatest fights, and that’s what everybody has been missing, right? We’re here to bring out the best of the best and bring you guys the big fights you’ve all been asking for. The only way we can be an example is by leading it. What we’re doing is working to bring back boxing and make it great again.”

Lopez said while he was briefly hung up on the notion of fighting Romero, whom he once gave $5,000 and a Rolex watch, a May conversation felt abrasive and prompted Lopez to decide, “I gotta pipe that down,” instructing his managers Keith Connolly and Michael Barao to make the fight and title it “Put Up or Shut Up.”

“We’ve both known each other for over 10 years, but all that is over because we’re going to fight each other and try to knock each other out,” Lopez said.

Trying to do so right after the Stevenson defeat is critical, Lopez said, because it conveys a personal message he wants to spread through society while altering the sport’s tradition of obsessively protecting a zero on the loss ledger.

“I have this vision. I’m so focused. It’s within my grasp,” he said.

Lopez admitted preparing fully for Romero stands in contrast to getting caught off guard by the crafty Stevenson.

“I’m apologizing to myself for not trusting myself. I was second-guessing myself,” he said.

But as he considers what can still be accomplished before his 30th birthday, he reflected, “We’re here for the time we have, so take advantage of it.” 

“Even when we lose, we win,” Lopez said of landing this bout and gaining the DAZN deal. “We’re going right back to fighting for a welterweight world title.

“The message I’m trying to bring to everyone is we all fail in life, but we’ve got to keep moving forward and be positive. That’s the whole purpose of the whole thing. I want to give you a good show while I’m here.

“And whatever you put your mind to, give it your all and do not give up. That’s how you win.”