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Teofimo Lopez could relinquish IBF belt rather than face George Kambosos Jr in Australia

Teofimo Lopez. Photo credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo ‘The Takeover’ Lopez 16-0 (12) is considering handing back his IBF belt to avoid travelling to Australia to face mandatory contender George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Jr 19-0 (10) at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta in Sydney’s inner west on October 17.

The 28-year-old Kambosos who hails from Sydney was scheduled to challenge WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC ‘Franchise’ champion Lopez, 23, at loanDepot Arena in Miami, Florida on June 19 before the champion was diagnosed with Covid-19 the week of the fight.

Video-sharing social network Triller won the purse bid to host the fight, ponying up a bid of $6.018 million to gain the rights. The bid was more than double that of Lopez’s own promoter Top Rank.

After the cancellation of the June 19 date the fight was pushed back to August 14, but Triller co-founder Ryan Kavanaugh is keen to move the fight to Australia where he believes he has a better chance of recouping the reported $5 million the company has lost with the scrapping of the original date.

“George Kambosos and his wife couldn’t have been more professional and understanding through what was obviously a very difficult time,” Kavanaugh said to ESPN.

“They had seen Lopez’s social media and expressed concern about his somewhat laissez-faire social activities. Unfortunately, they were right.

“No matter who is the ‘known’ fighter, fair is fair. Lopez needs to go to Australia and should be bending over backwards to make this right for Kambosos, for us and for all others who lost out due to their irresponsibility.

“We have set the fight for October in Australia, which will be an even bigger draw. We have the stadium set and the PPV will be Saturday primetime. We truly hope Lopez and his camp do the right thing.”

The fight would take place at the 38,000 seat stadium in the New South Wales capital on a Sunday afternoon with the bout beamed back live on pay-per-view into the US on a Saturday night.

At least, that’s the plan. Lopez’s manager David McWater remains to be convinced.

“That’s our major objection: to ask a guy to fly international and cut weight for 14 days while in quarantine. It’s not right,” McWater said to ESPN.

“One guy is at a distinct disadvantage.

“I don’t think we’ll have to give up the title. I think if they want to move [the fight] that far back the IBF will rule. But fine, if we have to, we’ll give up the title and he can fight [next-available contender] Isaac Cruz somewhere for $70,000 [for the vacant title].

“One of these guys is the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The other is a mandatory contender. I don’t know when they became equals.”

Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella has told Team Lopez to suck it up.

“When there’s a purse bid, the people who win the purse bid have the right to do the event basically wherever they choose,” DiBella said to ESPN.

“Triller spent a tremendous amount of money that they can’t get back because Teofimo got COVID.

“On one hand I’m empathetic that Teofimo got COVID, but going to purse bid, this is what we bargained for.

“If he wants to vacate the IBF belt, that’s Teofimo’s and Dave’s prerogative. Obviously it will cost a lot of people a lot of money. He can’t be compelled to fight for the belt if he wants to give it up.”