Teofimo Lopez Jr. has responded to calls from fans and experts alike for the lightweight division's champions and top contenders to fight one another in 2021 by daring the likes of Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia to step into the ring with him.
Lopez currently sits at the top of a very talented 135 lb pile following his win over Vasiliy Lomachenko to add the Ukrainian great's WBA (Super), WBO and The Ring titles — as well as the WBC "Franchise" title — to the IBF strap already held by the Honduran-American.
All four of Lopez, Haney, Garcia and "Tank" are undefeated at present, and Davis is the WBA's "regular" champion, while Haney holds the recognised edition of the WBC belt. Garcia, who hopes to become a world champion before the year is over, impressively finished Luke Campbell from the canvas live on DAZN on Jan. 2 in Dallas.
Speaking to TMZ, Lopez made it clear that if the four do not end up fighting each other in a series of huge bouts to unify the division, it will show how much they fear him. In particular, he singled out Davis as a fighter who is particularly avoiding a showdown with Lopez.
"I know y'all scared and s—t, but let's just make the fight happen for the fans," said Lopez. "Let's just do that. Don't overprice yourselves.
"If y'all believe y'all the best and y'all think that y'all can take this, then let's make the fight happen! Man, don't be psy about it.
On "Tank, Lopez added: "Yeah, he is [scared]. He is. He's not scared of the opposition he's facing right now because it's light work.
"I mean he knocked out a 122 pounder [Leo Santa Cruz]. C'mon yo! I can do the same sh-t and I can do it better, in a better fashion.
"But hey, I take my hat off to [Davis], he's doing his thing and I congratulate all of them. Haney, Garcia, Tank. But, when it comes to it man, I'm the king of the division. I'm the kingpin!"
However it happens, the boxing community is hoping to see these four face off in one combination or another as the year progresses.
Following the win over Campbell, Garcia called out Davis and also expressed an interest in taking up his mandatory challenge of Haney, who was in attendance.
DAZN's Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora, ringside in Texas, also said on "Jabs" that they would like to see Garcia vs. "Tank" while Haney meets Lopez, with the two winners then clashing to unify the division.