Teofimo Lopez Sr. wants his son Teofimo Lopez to face the winner of Ryan Garcia against Conor Benn following his WBA welterweight title fight with Rolando Romero. Victory on August 22 would set up a major 147-pound unification campaign.
The former lightweight world champion is stepping up to the 147-pound weight class as he seeks to move past a one-sided defeat against Shakur Stevenson in January. Transitioning to welterweight offers an immediate opportunity to capture another world title, with the bout against WBA champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero scheduled for August 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Should Lopez win the belt, his team plans to target the September 12 contest between Garcia and Benn, setting up a high-profile showdown later in the year.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Lopez Sr. expressed immediate interest in facing whichever fighter emerges victorious from that September bout. “Especially, whoever wins, it’ll be a great fight. Either it’s Ryan, or it’s Conor Benn. And we’re ready to do it, man.”
The trainer has outlined an ambitious timeline of under two years to achieve undisputed status in the weight class. “And then if Liam Paro is still around or whoever else it is, man, we’re just going to try to take over the weight division at 147, become undisputed again.”
The step up of seven pounds presents technical questions. Still, the camp believes the additional weight will increase speed and power.
Addressing how his son will handle heavier opponents at welterweight, Lopez Sr. maintained that elite ring IQ will prove decisive. “All these fighters are going to be slower than him, and he’s a really smart fighter in there.”
However, executing these plans requires complete focus in the ring. Lopez Sr. noted that mindset remains the primary variable in his son’s performance. “All I know is this is the time where we got to be focused, and my son got to be in his best mental mind ever,” he warned. With fighters like Devin Haney and Liam Paro also listed among potential opponents at 147 pounds, overcoming Romero in Las Vegas is the essential prerequisite for any future division takeover.
