WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez appears to have finally locked in his next opponent. According to a report from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Lopez is in the process of finalizing a deal to face former IBF champion Subriel Matias on March 15.
Lopez made an offer to fight Devin Haney, but that was rejected. Recently, Lopez was rumored to be in discussions with Jaron “Boots” Ennis, but that fight has seemingly fallen through as well.
The fight with Matias is a strong pivot and arguably just as intriguing as one with Haney or Ennis.
Lopez is making his third defense of the 140-pound title. The fight will headline Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ PPV. The location for the event hasn’t been announced, but it is expected to take place in the United States.
Because it’s a PPV event, there is a possibility it could take place at Madison Square Garden or in MSG’s Hulu Theater. Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) is ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s and Ring Magazine’s junior welterweight rankings.
In his last fight, Lopez earned a unanimous decision win over Steve Claggett. In February, Lopez edged out a win over Jamaine Ortiz. Neither win produced widespread acclaim because both Claggett and Ortiz were viewed as less-than-challenging opposition.
The fight with Matias is more in line with what is expected of a star on Lopez’s level.
Matias (21-2, 21 KOs), ESPN’s No. 8 boxer at junior welterweight and Ring Magazine’s No. 6-ranked fighter in the weight class, is looking to bounce back. He lost his IBF junior welterweight title in an upset to Liam Paro in June. Paro recently dropped the title via unanimous decision to Richardson Hitchins.
Now, the 32-year-old Puerto Rican is getting another shot at winning a world title. If the fight is in New York, it would be a major attraction. Lopez is a native New Yorker, and there is a large and powerful Puerto Rican population in the city. There’s every reason to believe the fight could create an exciting atmosphere.
Pay-per-view could be a different story. It’s tough for any fighter in the sport not named Terence Crawford, Gervonta Davis, Canelo Alvarez, Tyson Fury, or Anthony Joshua to find an opponent that justifies a fight landing on pay-per-view.
As it is, we’ll find out how this one performs assuming it comes to fruition.
Many in the fight community are beginning to wonder what’s next for Haney and Ennis. Neither man appears to have an opponent lined up. Haney is coming off his crushing loss turned no decision against Ryan Garcia in March. He’s seemingly being very selective about his next move.
Ennis is still undefeated, but he took some criticism for his unanimous decision win over Karen Chukhadzhian in November. Ennis didn’t look overly impressive and took more shots—specifically the left hook—than most expected.
At one point, Ennis was rumored to move up to 154 pounds to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. on the February 22 card in Saudi Arabia. Ortiz is fighting Israil Madrimov on that outstanding card instead.
Perhaps Ennis-Haney is a fight that can be made at 147 pounds. That fight would be a big one for both men and one the boxing community would be eager to see.
Stay tuned.
