Trainer Greg Hackett says Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis would have ended Teofimo Lopez’s career if that fight had happened recently. He feels that the beating Lopez would have taken from Ennis would have finished him. Hackett states that Teofimo wouldn’t be able to get any more “big shows.”
The 140-lb champion Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) had been pushing for a fight against IBF and WBC welterweight champion Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs), but there was no interest in that match-up at this time. Teofimo was counting on getting that fight.
Impatient Teofimo Seeks Paydays
Hackett feels that Lopez has become a money “Whore,” and will do anything to get a fight at this point in his career. Teo had been trying to get fights against Terence Crawford as well, but had no luck with that one.
Lopez has become impatient at this point in his career, and seemingly tired of making regular money. He wants the big paydays that fighters like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta Davis are getting.
“Teofimo is talking out his a** that he would beat Boots, but you had an okay fight with Barboza. You didn’t finish him. Anyone else would have finished him. They would have knocked that kid out,” said trainer Greg Hackett to YSM Sports Media about Teofimo Lopez’s performance against Arnold Barboza Jr. on May 2nd.
Teofimo would have moved around all night against Ennis like he did against Arnold Barboza Jr, and would have survived to lose a one-sided 12-round decision. His fight against Barboza Jr. was likely a trial run for how he planned to compete against Boots. He had no reason to move as much as he did against Arnold because he was facing a weak puncher.
Ennis Ends Lopez’s Career
“If Boots would have fought that kid [Teofimo], he would have ended his career,” said Hackett. “Teo would have got paid and made some money, but that would have been the last time. He wouldn’t have been in any more big shows. He ain’t really that impressive. He hasn’t been since 135. Lipinets would beat Teofimo.”
Lopez is too charismatic for any defeat to end his career. He stands out among all the fighters at 140 and 147 as being more interesting to listen to. He could absorb a lot of losses, and fans would still want to watch him fight. No one would expect Teofimo to beat Ennis in the first place. So if he lost, it wouldn’t be a big deal because he would have been showing bravery.
“Teo hasn’t been impressive at all,” said Hackett. “To me, he hasn’t been impressive since the Lomachenko fight. The only reason he was impressive in that fight is because of how young he was and how he approached it. But he was a very hungry fighter at that time. He’s not hungry no more. He’s not hungry. And he’s turned into a whore because he’d do anything for money.”
Greg brings up a good point. Teofimo hasn’t been impressive since his clash against Vasily Lomachenko in 2020. Even in that fight, Lopez was only impressive in the first six rounds. When Lomachenko began applying pressure in the second half, Teofimo wilted and appeared to lose five of the last six rounds.
Teofimo’s Press Conference Theater
“He’d even put a wig on recently and some eyeliner. I’m done with him. Boots Ennis would have killed him. He would have murdered that kid. We don’t want to see that. If he had fought a full-fledged Boots Ennis, he would have killed you,” said Hackett.
Teofimo was trying to put some theater into his press conference for his May 2nd fight against Barboza Jr. at Times Square in New York. The make-up and cowboy hat were part of his costume. Lopez was trying to liven things up because he realized there were a lot of deadbeats who had no personality to help create interest in the event.
Last Updated on 05/30/2025
