Promoter Bob Arum revealed that the Saudis want to offer Teofimo Lopez a three-fight deal that he likes. Arum says it’s up to Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) to give him his “endorsement.”
They reportedly want Teofimo to fight good opposition, which will be risky because he has looked vulnerable in many of his fights over the last four years. He turned down a fight against Subriel Matias recently, and Devin Haney said there was an offer that Teo turned down.
Lopez didn’t want to match George Kambosos Jr. after he beat him in 2021. This strange, self-destructive behavior has prevented Teofimo from becoming more popular. Of course, taking those fights would have worked against Lopez as he would have lost them all and he would feel even worse now.
The Saudis want Teofimo right now while he’s still semi-popular, but if he loses all three games for them, he’ll be in the ‘who needs him club’. He will be on the scrap heap and which promoter will go dumpster diving for Teo. He would be like another Rolly Romero type fighter who is good at promoting his fights but unreliable inside the ring.
Three-game deal
“The Saudis have come to us and they have talked about doing a three-match deal with Teofimo, who we like a lot. Now the ball is in Teofimo’s court to get his approval,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told Fighthype about Teofimo Lopez.
“The Saudis have stepped up to the plate and as far as Top Rank is concerned we are happy with the offer and the arrangement. Now it’s up to Teofimo. I’ll be back in Vegas on Saturday and I’ll be contacting Teofimo and his people to see where goes from there.
“We are talking to the Saudis [about Teofimo fighting IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins]. We have had a good relationship with Teo, but it comes at a time when they are looking to fly a bit on their own. It is not unusual. It is happening, but I think Teofimo will like the package that the Saudis have presented and we will move forward with him on that basis,” said Arum.
Teofimo’s career could be on the line after his tri-match with the Saudis ends in early 2026, as there is not one match he has a good shot at winning among the three. If these are the three games Turki Al-Sheikh has for Lopez, he likely won’t get another contact:
- Richardson Hitchins – Summer
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis – October
- Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 Win or Lose – February 2026
The Garcia-Haney 2 loser is the most winnable of these three for Teo. In the last four years, we’ve seen how Lopez has looked in his fights against Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz, Sandor Martin and George Kambosos Jr. He is not talented enough to get through Hitchins or Boots without losing at least one if not two.
The aftermath
The Saudis will not throw mega-millions at Teofimo after he leaves 0-3 in their current contract. I could see Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom signing Lopez after his contact with Turki and Top Rank expires. They just signed 36-year-old Liam Smith, who hasn’t fought in two years since 2023 and is coming off a knockout loss to Chris Eubank Jr.
If Matchroom were willing to sign Smith, they will be all over Teo and will invest in a rebuilding job like they did with Anthony Joshua. It didn’t work with him, and it won’t be effective with Lopez if he’s coming off a three-fight losing streak. It’s not just the three games.
Teofimo has been fighting consistently since his loss to Kambosos Jr. in 2021. He has been saved by the judges who have saved him against Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin. Top Rank has helped Teo by not throwing him to the wolves by matching him against guys who would finish what Kambosos started.
