Bob Arum Eyes Lopez vs. Ennis: Is It Realistic?
Bob Arum wants to make a Teofimo Lopez and Jaron Ennis fight, but is this realistic?
Lopez has complained that he is not getting the biggest fights despite having a stellar resume. Lopez is a two-weight world champion and a two-time lineal champion, winning titles at 135 and 140 pounds. The biggest wins of his career have come against Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. Lomachenko is a three-weight world champion who will arguably go down as a future Hall of Famer. Meanwhile, Taylor is the former Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion. However, the major stumbling block Lopez faces is that he wants to secure big paydays and big fights.
Lopez’s Problem
But he has regularly been criticized for not having the best commercial value. He failed to sell out the Taylor fight, even though it was in his hometown. Lopez won against Steve Claggett in his last fight, as he successfully defended his WBO Junior Welterweight Title. Since then, Lopez has been targeting a fight against the WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Terence Crawford. That would be risky, requiring Lopez to jump up two weight classes. Bud is reluctant to take that fight as he is focused on facing Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds.
Lopez also called out Ennis and Gervonta Davis, showing his desire to get the biggest fights at either 140 or by moving up. Lopez’s problem in trying to secure the Ennis fight is whether Boots thinks it is worthwhile. Boots has been criticized for not making unification fights at 147. He has failed to make bouts with Brian Norman Jr., who holds the WBO Welterweight Title. The same can be said for the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. But Ennis could end up facing a big name at 147 to appease those fans.
Will It Happen?
Lopez is certainly a big name, even if he does not offer Ennis a belt. However, that would require Lopez to work with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. Hearn and Lopez do not have the best relationship following Teofimo’s reaction after his loss to George Kambosos Jr. Lopez hit out at DAZN, later going back to fighting on ESPN. That means there has to be some compromise. Lopez is with ESPN, while Ennis fights on DAZN. But that is the fight that Arum wanted to make next. Meanwhile, Lopez is looking for a good 2025.
“That’s the fight we want and I believe we can make it happen. We’d ante up for Teofimo and Eddie will ante up for Ennis. They’ll never go for it … (Lopez) could be left playing a game of musical chairs,” Arum said
“Right now it’s just about listening to my team, letting things play out the way they need to, and hopefully before the closing of this year we should have a fight lined up for the beginning of 2025…[I want] Jaron Ennis ‘Boots’, Gervonta Davis, and finish with Terence Crawford,” Lopez stated
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