With Teofimo Lopez returning to his former glory on the weekend, challengers are lining up for a shot at his crown.
The 25-year-old Lopez 19-1 (13) of Brooklyn, New York upset the highly favoured WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor 19-1 (13) at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, outworking and outlanding him over 12 rounds to win a unanimous decision victory.
Former WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion Lopez has failed to impress since moving up to the 140-pound weight class last year, but he turned back the clock to dominate Scotland’s Taylor, 33, in a way he has not done since he competed at 135-pounds.
Now known as the king of his new weight class, he is in a position to pick and chose his next challenge.
Once interested observer at ringside was former WBC and WBO champion Jose Carlos Ramirez 28-1 (18), who lost his two belts to Taylor in a four-belt unification bout two years ago.
When asked by ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna is her would like to face Lopez next, Ramirez replied: “Most definitely. You know, God willing, Top Rank is able to give that to me next. And let’s make it happen. You know, I’ll be honored to share the ring with Teofimo Lopez and, you know, take those belts back.”
The 30-year-old Ramirez from Avenal, California was impressed by the display Lopez put on against Taylor.
“Teofimo looked really sharp,” Ramirez said. “You know, he looked really strong and you could tell Taylor’s not the cleanest fighter. You saw it again tonight and I think Teofimo did a great job, you know, on the clinches.
“After the first couple rounds, he took control. Again, I don’t know where Taylor’s at. He’s been inactive for some time [15 months], but hey, congratulations to Teofimo Lopez. He looked sharp.”
Ramirez continued: “Taylor looked really flat-footed, man. He looked really flat-footed and Teofimo capitalised on that. He looked very heavy on his feet. He looked tired after the fourth, fifth round, but you know, I feel like the Jose Ramirez now is a much better fighter than I was before.
“I feel really good mentally and healthy and I feel my skills overall are much better than Taylor’s, so we’ll have to see that night. I’ll do the talking with actions in that ring if I ever do face Teofimo Lopez.”
Lopez has bounced back with a brace of victories after his loss to Taylor. In March last year he outpointed former WBO lightweight champion Jose Pedraza over 12 frames and in this past March he knocked out the tough Richard Commey in the 11th stanza after dropping him twice in the penultimate round.
A bout between the pair would be a fight fan’s delight.
