IBF, WBA, WBC Franchise, WBO lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez is still in very high spirits after stunning Vasiliy Lomachenko last month with a twelve round unanimous decision win at the MGM Grand's Conference Center in Las Vegas.
The victory shot up Lopez's standing among the best fighters in the world, as there experts who considered Lomachenko to be the best boxer, pound-for-pound, in the sport.
“It’s amazing. I believe top five is where I belong. One thing I don’t like is that it’s me and Loma next to each other. I’m like, ‘Ugh, nah, kick him out.’ In reality though, it’s crazy just to see your name on there. To see that out of many, many fighters in the world, and you’re in the top five," Lopez told Talk Sport.
“It goes to show me that we’re doing something big. I’m very happy and I’m very appreciative of those who have acknowledged me for all the hard work and all the stuff that we have done."
The lightweight division is one of the hottest weight classes in the sport.
There are big opponents for Lopez, like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis.
Lopez indicates that all three of his division rivals are still far away from the pound-for-pound level - until they secure better wins over top level opponents.
“For anyone that’s trying to be in the pound-for-pound list alongside me, you have to beat somebody that is not a cab driver, that is not a tomato can and that actually has a pulse. As regards to ‘Tank’ Davis, to Devin Haney, to Ryan Garcia, to all the other fighters out there," Lopez said.
“Because I know they’re trying to squeeze some of these other guys into the pound-for-pound list now that I’m on. But nah, not yet.”