Teofimo Lopez should be feeling on top of the world after a huge $6 million purse bid from Triller secured the rights to his mandatory defence against George Kambosos Jr. Instead, he feels somewhat hung out to dry.
Lopez's rise up the ranks was capped by his October victory over the great Vasiliy Lomachenko in a unification fight to become the top dog at lightweight. However, he told The Ring he feels "disrespected" that his own promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, came third in the bidding for the sport's hottest new star behind Triller and Eddie Hearn.
“I was in shock when Triller won the bid," Lopez explained. "I wanted to see what the open market was and I thought Top Rank was going to fight for me.
"It was shocking Triller won, but it was also good because I’m getting paid more. I bet on myself and I won.
“You know I love ESPN and I love Top Rank, for all that they have done for me and my career and my team. David McWater, my manager (and BWAA 2020 Manager of the Year), has been on this purse bid. It was for a good reason.
“Things have been different since the Loma fight, and shockingly for the negative. All I’ve been trying to do is to make the best things possible. It’s a respect thing. Respect for me is big. I’m very big on respect and morals. Top Rank has been this for so many years. I expected different treatment from them.”
Reports suggest Triller will aim to combine Lopez vs. Kambosos, an intriguing battle of undefeated fighters that could lead to even bigger showdowns in the division later on, with a big-name sideshow attraction such as retired legend Mike Tyson or controversial YouTuber Jake Paul in action. Both Tyson and Paul fought on a Triller show in November.
Meanwhile, the rift between Lopez and Arum seems to be at risk of getting worse. Arum was publicly chastised by Hearn recently as the Matchroom Boxing chief accused the old-school promoter of trying to threaten him out of the purse bid running by insinuating that Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury could fall through if Hearn did not step aside.
Arum has also had issues with another top name in his stable, Terence Crawford. The undefeated welterweight champion has encountered frustrations similar to that of Lopez, with Arum seemingly unwilling to get behind his new stars if it means having to pay them more.