Teofimo Lopez, the WBO and lineal junior welterweight titlist, has announced his retirement from boxing following an impressive performance against Josh Taylor. The talented and eccentric Lopez made the announcement on Instagram, sharing a childhood photo of himself with his father and stating, “What a relief! Retired at the Top. Thank you Boxing for the amazing life you’ve provided for myself and my entire loved ones.”
Although it remains to be seen whether Lopez will remain retired, his decision is undoubtedly newsworthy. The 25-year-old boxer currently holds a record of 20 wins and a single loss, and his retirement comes after he redeemed himself on Saturday night with a spectacular victory over Taylor.
After winning multiple lightweight titles against the legendary Vasyl Lomachenko, Lopez suffered a setback when he lost his throne to George Kambosos in his first defense. He then moved up to junior welterweight, but his performance in this weight class was lackluster until the recent bout against Taylor.
Many expected Taylor to win the fight, as he was the defending WBO and lineal junior welterweight titlist. However, Lopez proved his critics wrong with a dominant performance. Despite fighting in his opponent’s hometown, Lopez was the faster, more powerful, and more skilled fighter. He hit Taylor repeatedly and dominated him throughout the match. Even Taylor himself admitted after the fight that he had no excuses.
Lopez’s victory over Taylor puts him in a strong position to earn significant paydays against high-profile opponents such as Regis Prograis. However, if he remains retired, there is no doubt that he is leaving the sport at the top of his game.
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