Written by Declan Taylor
IT'S been five years since Boxing News sat down with Teofimo Lopez for the first in-depth interview with the New York star.
On that April day in Manhattan, as Lopez prepared to face Edis Tatli at Madison Square Garden, the youngster had spoken of his plans to dominate the ranks once he graduated from lightweight.
He also explained how his father, Teofimo Sr, who was a limousine driver, recorded him in a fighter that had original designs for the Hall of Fame. Indeed, his original quote was 'a work that will go down as one of the greatest ever'. The title 'Golden Child' seemed fitting.
While speaking, the 21-year-old would often look at his girlfriend Cynthia, to smile or wave at her, revealing that he plans to marry her soon. He knocked out former European champion Tatli a few days later, in the fifth round, and, after celebrating with a slice of pizza a few blocks from MSG, he and Cynthia tied the knot 48 hours later.
But while the above would have been a solid start to the Lopez legend, the next five years did not go as planned. He won, three out of four lightweight belts, thanks in large part to a miraculous victory over Vasily Lomachenko in October 2020.
However, it was after that victory, which is now one of the best fights in the world, that Lopez revealed that he had considered suicide many times. There was also talk of money problems that left him almost penniless even though he quickly ascended the throne. Then 11 months after defeating Loma, he was taken down on his way to a decision loss to George Kambosos Jr.
Al Bello/Getty Images/Thriller
He rebuilt inside the ring up to 140lbs with two victories in 2022 in 10 rounders against Pedro Campa and then Sandor Martin but in 2023 his personal life was falling apart. His marriage to Cynthia, a former flight attendant he had met on a flight, was falling apart and he said he could no longer see his young son as a result.
Therefore, it is impossible to know where we stand in the arc of the story of Lopez as of now, although he is also the world champion thanks to the victory of Josh Taylor last June.
“Things are good,” he said boxing news, without a doubt. “It's really good. I learned from one of my greatest coaches and that is Bruce Lee. Have some water my friend, I drew it right here on my arm. He says 'be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself'.
“Those are the three things I did leading up to the Loma fight and after it, and – expressing myself at the level of just saying 'this is what's happening'. By doing those things, instead of holding it all in and letting it mold and kill me inside, I let it all go. Yes, I took it out to the public and the world to show people that I also have things to go through.
“It's like yin yang, right? You have to pick your battles. You have to choose what darkness will come. Is it the darkness of worshiping something bad or the darkness of just going through those bad things to get to the light? That's what makes the difference right there and not many people get it until they get into it.”
His first defense of the super-lightweight world title – against Jamaine Ortiz in February – came without much trouble, and few expect him to slip away from Steve Claggett this weekend either.
And while chaos outside the ring can often lead to a dull performance inside, Lopez says it's only strengthened his focus. His training camp may have been full of tears but Lopez is adamant that he will give his best at the James L Knight Center in Miami Beach.
“You have to see that, as boxers, it is our greatest blessing,” explained Lopez. “There are many things we cannot control but one thing we can control – that is what happens in the ring.”
The full version of this feature appears in The Latest Boxing News. Shop here to learn.
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