BUDS ULTIMATUM

Will Teofimo Lopez Jr Call Crawfords Bluff?

Article By: John Green

Timeline of Events Leading to Crawford’s Challenge to Lopez:

Teofimo Lopez’s Rise and Early Comments on Crawford (2021-2022)

The roots of the tension began when Teofimo Lopez was riding high after defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 to become the unified lightweight champion. With Lopez’s brash personality and confidence skyrocketing, he began setting his sights on bigger names across various weight classes. Crawford, a dominant figure at welterweight and super welterweight, naturally became a target for Lopez’s ambitions. Lopez frequently mentioned Crawford in interviews, suggesting he could defeat the multi-division champion despite the significant size difference. While these comments were initially dismissed by fans and media as the usual bravado, they planted the seeds of what would later become a full-blown feud.

The Exchange Escalates (Mid-2023)

By mid-2023, Lopez’s star had dimmed slightly after his loss to George Kambosos Jr., but he quickly rebounded by capturing the WBO super lightweight title against Josh Taylor in June 2023. After this victory, Lopez reignited his war of words with Crawford, often referring to Crawford as “old” and claiming he was overrated. Lopez, always looking for attention and trying to build momentum for a high-profile fight, began taunting Crawford more directly on social media.

This period saw Crawford mostly ignoring Lopez, focusing on his own career after moving up to 154 pounds. However, Crawford’s name continued to surface in Lopez’s interviews, where he accused Crawford of being “protected” and unwilling to face true challengers from lower weight divisions like him.

Lopez’s Racial Remarks (September 2024)

The situation took a major turn in September 2024 when Lopez, during an interview, was asked whether he’d prefer to fight Crawford or Gervonta “Tank” Davis first. In his response, Lopez referred to both fighters as “monkeys,” a comment that was quickly condemned as racist. Crawford, who had largely stayed silent on Lopez’s earlier provocations, was furious. He publicly called Lopez out for the racist remark, and the back-and-forth began escalating on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

In response, Lopez tried to defend his comment by saying both fighters called themselves “gorillas,” but the damage was done. This moment intensified the feud, with Crawford now publicly acknowledging Lopez’s constant provocations.

The In-Person Confrontation at the UFC Event (Late September 2024)

The rivalry escalated at a UFC event, held on the same day as Canelo Alvarez’s fight in late September 2024. During this event, Crawford confronted Lopez and his father, leading to a tense exchange. Crawford, unhappy with Lopez’s disrespectful behavior, made it clear that he was not intimidated and that he was ready to fight both Lopez and his father if necessary. The situation almost became physical, but it was de-escalated before things could go further​.

The Challenge: Crawford Sets Conditions for a Fight (October 2024)

After the physical altercation, Lopez continued to taunt Crawford on social media, claiming he could beat him and urging Crawford to step up and fight. At this point, Crawford decided to put a condition on the table. In early October 2024, Crawford publicly challenged Lopez to first fight Israil Madrimov—a formidable contender in the super welterweight division. Crawford’s message was clear: if Lopez could defeat Madrimov, Crawford would give him the fight he so desperately sought​.

This challenge is significant for several reasons. Madrimov is an incredibly tough opponent, and Lopez, who typically fights at 140 pounds, would have to move up in weight to face him. It’s seen by many as a way for Crawford to call Lopez’s bluff—if Lopez is serious about fighting Crawford, he would need to prove his worth by beating a legitimate contender in Madrimov first.

Canelo’s Sarcastic Remark Adds to the Drama

Adding to the drama, Canelo Alvarez entered the conversation. During a public event, Canelo was asked about Crawford, and in a sarcastic remark, he said he might consider fighting Crawford if Crawford beat Lopez first. While most saw this as Canelo teasing the idea, Lopez took it seriously and went on YouTube to argue that Crawford should abandon his pursuit of a Canelo fight and focus on fighting him instead. This further exposed Lopez’s desperation for a high-profile bout​.

Where Things Stand Now

The ball is now in Teofimo Lopez Jr.’s court. Crawford has laid down the gauntlet—defeat Madrimov, and then they’ll fight. Whether Lopez will take on that challenge remains to be seen, but the feud has undoubtedly brought the attention Lopez craved, even if it has tarnished his reputation with controversial remarks.

Crawford, known for his calm demeanor and professionalism, seems to be playing the long game. By setting conditions for the fight, he’s forcing Lopez to prove himself in a meaningful way, rather than giving him an immediate payday or platform based solely on his trash talk.

This ongoing saga has the potential to become one of boxing’s most intriguing rivalries, depending on how Lopez responds to Crawford’s challenge.