Teofimo: There is no “step stool” for Mathias.

The Dark and Terrible Vampire at the Ring Awards on Saturday, Teofimo Lopez said he chose not to fight Subriel Matias because he didn’t want to be him. “Step Stool” To help the recently defeated IBF light welterweight champion.

He says Matthias won’t win the fight and he doesn’t feel he has anything to do with helping the former champion rebuild. Although Theo had helped him rebuild after his loss, he saw no point in helping someone in his position in 2021.

What’s more, Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) said he wants “A big guarantee.” After top promoter Bob Arum said the fight was not PPV worthy. It is not clear what kind of money 27-year-old Teofimo is seeking as “insurance” from the top flight, but no deal has been reached.

Teofimo is now on the shelf without a fight, and has been out of the ring for seven months since his dominating victory over journeyman Steve Clagett on June 29 of last year.

Lopez said Matias was the only option he rated highly. There weren’t “many choices” and he “put his foot down” because he was tired of the “take it or leave it” fight.

“I feel like it’s time for me to fight bigger and better. Matias is trying to bounce back from his loss to Lim Paro in his country,” said Teofimo Lopez. Fight Hub TV “I think by doing that, why am I going to be a stepping stone for that guy?

“He will not win. Of course not. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum mentioned that fighting is not a pay-per-view. i agree. Chairman Bob Arum said this. Anyone involved in this situation, wanted to push for PPV.

“I said, ‘If that’s the case, I need insurance.’ Give me a big guarantee and then we can start talking about the fight. I’m ready to fight now.’ Things did not go according to plan. They knocked him out. They said I played in bad faith for the fight, but in reality they only gave us one option,” said Lopez.

In hindsight, Teofimo made the right decision not to take the fight with Matias (21-2, 21 KO), because there was a very good chance he could lose. Mathias clashes with Lopez’s fighting style, and is on another level with George Kambossos Jr., who has proven to be Theo’s kryptonite.

New York’s Lopez couldn’t handle the pressure fighters. We saw that in Kambossos, Jamaine Ortiz and later rounds in a 2020 upset win over 2020 Vassily Lomachenko.

“Different fighters weren’t an option, and they didn’t want to unify,” Teofimo said of Top Rank. “They didn’t want to pay x dollar amount for certain fighters. I just don’t get it. It looks like it was shot at me. I take it as my opinion as my market.

It’s understandable why Top Rank wouldn’t pay Teofimo an arm and a leg to set up a unification fight with the other champions because it’s not a PPV. He is not popular enough, and the other champions in the 140 are not big names.

Light welterweight champions

– Jose ‘Rio’ Valenzuela
– Richardson Hitchins
– Alberto Pulo

“You have to think about it from a business perspective, and that’s what I’m coming to this year,” Teofimo said. Wouldn’t it be better to watch it open to the public on online TV than doing a PPV in 2025 instead of my first year back? Why am I charging you guys? You guys were there to watch us. It should be free. ESPN and the network are still cut, and so are we. Let’s leave it open to all.

“I just put my foot down. LOPEZ I’ve been fighting for you guys (high level), and I can’t do it.