The father of former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr 18-1 (13) wants to see his son face newly-minted WBC junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis 28-1 (24) in April.
Lopez Jr was rated number four by the WBC in mid-November before Regis Prograis won the vacant title against Jose Zepeda by 11th round knockout on November 26.
The younger Lopez is the leading contender in the WBO but with the Puerto Rican sanctioning body’s champion Josh Taylor 19-0 (13) expected to face Jack Catterall 26-1 (13) in a rematch early in the new year, it is unlikely the winner of that bout would be ready for action until mid-year.
The solution, according to Teofimo Lopez Sr, is a fight against two-time world champion Prograis.
“We want him and we want him in April,” Lopez Sr said to ESNEWS. “He’s got no other fight, bro. He wants a big fight.
“If you listen to the interview with [Jose] Ramirez. What did Ramirez say? ‘Teofimo Lopez isn’t going to take that fucking bullshit money.’ What did Prograis say? ‘I want to fight Josh Taylor again.’ He never mentioned my son.
“Bro, be realistic. Josh Taylor isn’t going to give you another chance. Are you out of your mind? He’s got his own shit going on right now.
“So the more realistic fight and a big fight is Teofimo Lopez. So how the hell are you going to come over here and talk Josh Taylor when Ramirez is already telling you about Teofimo Lopez? We’re coming after his ass.
“I don’t dislike [Prograis]. The dude is a very nice guy. I like him. I met him before. This is boxing, so he has to take the challenge. My son is easy prey for Regis. So come and get it.
“That’s what everyone’s talking about. There’s no way in hell my son can beat Prograis. The same shit that happened with [Richard] Commey and the same shit that happened with Loma.
“I’m going to make all these motherfuckers eat their words and you know who I’m talking about. You sons of bitches that talk shit about my son and then they got to eat their fucking words.
“We did it twice before. We can do it three times easy because my son ain’t losing to a motherfucker that comes to fight. Ain’t no way. My son is gifted, bro. Prograis don’t move like my son. You know that.
“We’re going to beat the shit out of him. We’re going to beat the shit out of him in every round. We’re not going in there for the knockout. We’re going in to box the shit out of him and that’s what these guys are scared of.
“They’re scared of boxers. I’m not going to tell my son to go in there to knock nobody out because I never say that to my son. I say, ‘If it comes, let’s go and get it’.”
Lopez Sr added his assessment of his son’s recent split decision victory over Sandor Martin 40-3 (13).
“I don’t put that pressure on him. I’m really happy right now; I’m in a good place. We won and I want to tell everybody, we won motherfuckers,” he said.
“Now we’re getting our minimums back. Big money. They’ve got to go to the bathroom and shit that shit out. They’re so angry and I love it. Tell Prograis that we’re coming for his ass.
“I like him as a person but when it comes to boxing, you’re in the wrong territory, bro. We’re going to come and get your ass, and that’s going to be his second loss.”
