Is Teofimo Lopez Using Richardson Hitchins For Free Publicity? Fans Are Doubting His Intentions

Teofimo Lopez’s callout of IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins last Saturday night after his win over George Kambosos Jr. is being looked at with skepticism by fans.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Teofimo Hijacked Hitchins’ Moment

Some fans look at Lopez as a sneaky spider who took advantage of the spotlight on Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) to hijack his moment by entering the ring after his knockout of Kambosos and getting free publicity for himself.

Richardson Desperate for Big Fight

Hitchins, 27, is so desperate for a fight against any notable fighter that he allowed Lopez to prance into the ring to take some of the shine from his win over the down-and-out vet, Kambosos Jr. (22-4, 10 KOs) that he’d used to pump up his career.

After the fight, Hitchins had called out Devin Haney, not Lopez. Teo shouldn’t have even been allowed into the ring. Again, Richardson is so desperate for a name fighter to fight that he just let Teofimo walk into the ring out of the blue without him saying before his bout against Kambosos that he wanted to face him next.

“A phenomenal performance by Richardson Hitchins. An amazing performance. I think everybody needs to see that type of fight against Teofimo. Let’s make it happen,” said Teofimo Lopez to Fight Hub TV, expressing interest in fighting a unification contest against Richardson Hitchins next. “I want to do everything and anything. I want to make boxing great again. Whatever the fight fans want. I’m #1, baby.”

Lopez’s Unreliable Callout History

Lopez has a history of calling out fighters and then not following through. We saw that with Haney and Subriel Matias. Hitchins should have ignored him and continued calling out Haney. However, that was a waste of time as well for Hitchins, because the chances of that fight happening are slim without Turki Alalshikh coming up with the money to make it.

The dough that Haney got for his tune-up fight against Jose Ramirez last May will have spoiled him. If Turki isn’t involved, he’s not going to agree to $1 to 2 million for a fight against Hitchins. That would be a dramatic pay cut from the $10 million he got fighting Ramirez.

“You can’t do the same thing with my son. He’ll figure you out,” said Teofimo Lopez Sr. about Richardson Hitchins following his win over George Kambosos Jr. last Saturday night. “That’s why he went up there trying to get the fight with Hitchins. You know, he’s calling out Devin Haney. So, I don’t know. I think he [Richardson] should take his next fight with my son.”

The movement that Hitchins uses would be a problem for Teofimo, who struggles against movers. Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin had Lopez mentally tied in knots in their fights at 140. Even George Kambosos’ movement gave Teo problems.

Teo Sr. Pushes Hitchins Fight

“He’s calling out Devin Haney. I don’t know. If you want to be King of New York, you’ve got to fight my son. We got the lineal Is Teofimo Lopez Using Richardson Hitchins For Free Publicity? Fans Are Doubting His Intentions. That’s the best one. He [Hitchins] should be looking for the best. Yeah, that’s why he said ‘Does New York want it’ and New York said, ‘Yes,’” said Lopez Sr. when asked if Teofimo wants the Hitchins fight.

The reason Hitchins is focusing on trying to get a fight against Haney is because he likely views that contest as one that has a better chance of being negotiated. It’s also an easier one for Hitchins. Devin looked shell-shocked in his last fight against Jose Ramirez on May 2nd, running around the ring all night. Richardson stands a better chance of putting that fight together and winning than he would if he fought Teofimo.

“Let’s see what happens. That fight isn’t for sure. Let’s find out what happens by next week. There are a lot of fights that can be made. We can even go up to 154. My son is walking around at 154, but we could fight at 147 or 154. He’s strong, he can take a punch, and he’s fast and smart. Anybody can get it. Let’s have it, bro. Let’s see who the King is of New York,” said Lopez Sr. when asked for a final message to Hitchins.

Fans believe that Teofimo is unreliable, and will change his mind about fighting Hitchins if he pursues the fight against. If Hitchins is foolish enough to agree to the fight, he could wind up empty-handed when Lopez abruptly pulls out of the negotiations like he did with Devin Haney.