Teofimo Lopez has now gone from retirement to reinstated champ to upgraded championship status all in the span of three months.
The two-division and reigning lineal and WBO junior welterweight champion was approved for ‘Super Champion’ status by the WBO. The 24-person committee unanimously voted in favor of the designation request filed by Top Rank on behalf of Lopez (19-1, 13KOs)
“This Committee strongly believes that Lopez substantially satisfies the requirements for such recognition,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas noted in a ruling reached Saturday evening.
One key area under which the WBO sought fit to approve the request were Lopez’s wins over the top fighter in two different weight divisions. Lopez defeated Vasilily Lomachenko in their October 2020 lightweight championship unification bout in Las Vegas.
He then delivered a sensational performance to dethrone unbeaten, lineal/WBO 140-pound champ Josh Taylor on June 10 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City.
Lopez’s amateur record was also taken into consideration, where he claimed 380 wins in 452 amateur fights and represented Honduras in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Additionally, Lopez held WBO ‘Super Champion’ status during his lightweight title reign.
“In summary, the above-referenced accomplishments clearly satisfy the required criteria for designation as
“WBO Super Champion” in the Jr. Welterweight Division,” noted Salas.
Among the benefits afforded a WBO Super Champion is the flexibility to extend the period between mandatory title defenses and the freedom to pursue more significant and legacy-defining fights. The designation also allows its claimants to petition for immediate mandatory challenger status in another weight division, or even their own in the event they lose the physical WBO title in the ring or through other means.
While it wasn’t specified in the ruling, Lopez would theoretically have a clear path to enter the WBO welterweight rankings as the mandatory challenger if he opted to pursue a third divisional championship.
Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14KOs) used the distinction to his advantage when he moved up from his undisputed cruiserweight reign to campaign at heavyweight. It eventually led to his challenge of then-unified WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua, whom he dethroned in their September 2021 meeting.
Lopez has yet to announce his next move or if he will even fight in 2023. He announced his retirement in the immediate wake of his terrific win over Taylor, only to walk back that claim when the WBO called for clarification on his championship status and intention to defend the title.
It has been theorized that he will headline a December 9 Top Rank show on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Top Rank and ESPN annually present a show on that weekend which immediately follows the network’s Heisman Trophy presentation to honor the top college football player.
By Jake Donovan