LAS VEGAS -- Technically, Teofimo Lopez has never been an undisputed champion. Realistically, though, he's a two-time undisputed champion.
The WBO super lightweight champion, Lopez returns to action on Thursday at the Michelob Ultra Arena when he defends his belt against Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs).
Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) first should have become undisputed lightweight champion when he defeated the legendary Vasiliy Lomachenko in Las Vegas on Oct. 17, 2020. Lopez brought the IBF championship into the bout, while Lomachenko was WBA-WBO champion. Lomachenko had won the WBC belt in the ring and never lost it, the WBC elevated him to "diamond champion" and conferred the regular belt upon Devin Haney.
Lopez should have been the undisputed lightweight champion after that victory. Haney would later unify those belts -- before dropping them and moving up to 140 -- when he beat Lomachenko.
After being shockingly upset by George Kambosos, Lopez won a pair of non-title fights before he challenged Josh Taylor. Taylor had won the undisputed super lightweight title when he defeated Jose Ramirez, but he had surrendered a couple of the belts before he fought Lopez.
But given he hadn't lost them in competition, it would be fair to say that Lopez is undisputed at 140 pounds now.
And while Lopez declined an offer to fight Ryan Garcia and hasn't been able to reach a deal to fight Haney, he's very much on the hunt for big fights. He's got undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford in his sights.
First, he has to take care of Ortiz, who is very confident despite long odds against him. At DraftKings, Lopez is -700 and Ortiz is +450.
"When the opposition is better, I fight better, and I believe Teofimo Lopez is going to bring the best out of me," Ortiz said. "I'm going to show my skills and athleticism on fight night. I think I'm more athletic and have more speed than Teofimo. I have a better jab and movement. I have a lot of advantages that will show when we fight."
Lopez hardly seemed bothered by Ortiz's comments. The pair fought in the Golden Gloves as amateurs and they know each other well.
Lopez had hoped to fight Subriel Matias, who holds the IBF title, but Matias was injured and the fight couldn't be made. He landed on Ortiz, who gave a good showing in an Oct. 29, 2022, loss to Lomachenko at Madison Square Garden.
"Unless they have something to show me in the ring, I don't respect nobody," Lopez said, grinning. "I go in there and do what I got to do. You know, talk is cheap and actions speak louder. We'll see what he could do come [Thursday]."
Lopez seemed calm and at peace when he spoke with KevinIole.com, a contrast to the way he was days before he was supposed to fight Taylor on June 10. He seemed tortured last June during an interview with ESPN's Mark Kriegel, days before he fought Taylor. He was in conflict with his father and his emotions poured out.
He seemed on the verge of a breakdown, but somewhat shockingly gave a breakout performance and routed Taylor.
After the win, he said he was going to retire but a few weeks later was back in the game. He seems to be one of those few athletes who performs at his best when he's in the midst of chaos.
His short name is Teo, which means God, and he pointed that to a reason for his success amidst the storm.
"It goes back to my name, not just Teofimo but Teo, you know," he said. "The gift of God. It's just really in those forms and in those moments that everything [is going on] that I believe a lot of eyes come to see me. Whether I win or whether I lose, they come to see me and on that night [against Taylor], I took advantage of it."
During a 2018 interview, Lopez spoke about his desire to face Garcia, Haney and Gervonta Davis, his peers in the amateurs and as young professionals. He vowed he'd fight each of them and yet, six years later, he's met none of them. Both Garcia and Haney are at his weight class, while Davis remains at lightweight.
He tries, he said, to make those fights happen and when asked why they didn't, suggests a reporter "talk to the investors."
He doesn't seem bothered by not having those great names on his resume, and his attention seems focused in a different direction.
"Absolutely not, I don't feel like I've missed anything," Lopez said of not fighting any of Davis, Garcia or Haney. "I mean, I fought back-to-back two guys who were the best in their weight divisions at the time, Vasiliy Lomachenko at 135 and Josh Taylor at 140. Josh Taylor being undisputed world champion and Lomachenko being lineal world champion at 135. So beating those two iconic and future Hall of Fame fighters ... shows a lot of improvement in myself, and I'm just turning 26.
"I haven't hit my prime yet so I look forward to maybe the likes of Terence Crawford. Terence 'Bud' Crawford, whether it's at 47 or 54 or we meet in between, I'm looking forward to those types of guys because they're actually willing to fight. These other ones, they're just pawns in a chess match."
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Teofimo Lopez hopes to land a bout against Terence Crawford.