TEOFIMO LOPEZ WANTS ENNIS AT 147, CRAWFORD AT 154, AND MORE SUPPORT FROM TOP RANK AND ESPN

Teofimo Lopez Jr. is calling his shots and taking some too.

The WBO junior welterweight champion Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) recently rejected a Sept. 27 fight date at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on ESPN. A matchup against recently elevated WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr. was on the table.

But Lopez believes there are bigger fish to fry, and he is now focused on reeling in Terence Crawford, among others, following “Bud’s” close unanimous decision win against Israil Madrimov for the WBA junior middleweight title. 

“Now that we have Riyadh Season in the mix, why can't we make a Crawford and Teofimo fight happen? We're in the house now. Make it happen,” Lopez told BoxingScene. “More money doesn't cause more problems. More money causes more boxing.

“Absolutely I can [move up to 154 pounds]. And I will. Just send me the date. I am walking at 155 pounds right now. I can fight Crawford right now.

“I didn't expect for age to catch up with Crawford so quickly [against Madrimov]. I thought it would happen at 38 and not 36.

“Everyone had high expectations of Crawford – he even had high expectations against Madrimov. But this is boxing, and things happen like this. This is probably good learning for him. He couldn't figure out his moves and feints. Maybe he shouldn't have taken so long coming back [after the Errol Spence fight in 2023]. But to each his own. I wasn't Terence Crawford in that fight. I'm Teofimo and I look forward to facing him in the coming year.”

Lopez has previously hinted that he’d entertain a Crawford fight at a catchweight and that he’d destroy and end the Nebraskan’s career if they ever met. 

Crawford has clapped back by calling Lopez a chump, telling him: “Your little bitch ass better worry about them little guys that’s on yo ass down there in yo weight class.”

Lopez leaping up to 154 pounds would require him to bypass the 147-pound weight class. But Lopez is open to facing the welterweight division’s top dog, too, in IBF titleholder Jaron Ennis, in addition to Norman. 

“To be honest, whatever plans they have. I have nothing but respect for Boots,” said Lopez. “We've known each other a long time. We won the National Golden Gloves together in 2015. We were both 17 years old. If people want to see it, then we'll do it. I don't say no to any fight. As long as it’s eye-catching and eye candy to everyone who’s watching, that's what really matters.” 

Lopez said he passed on his September fight date because he wanted to fight in Southern California, and not because the date fell on a Friday, as some reports have suggested. 

“I didn't duck or dodge Brian Norman at all,” said Lopez. “Look, I love New York. I love Madison Square Garden. I fought nine times there throughout my career. It's a home for me. I fought in Las Vegas four times. I just want to try a different avenue, with all due respect, and fight in Los Angeles. I've never fought in LA and I want to. And I'll still fight Brian Norman this year. Crawford just fought. I am sure he wants to take some time to be with his family. I still want to stay active. I'm ready.

“I fought on a fucking Thursday [in February against Jamaine Ortiz] for crying out loud. It's just making the right decisions for me now. It's something that I didn't do when I was younger, and I am doing it now. That's really it. I don't duck anyone. You should know this by now. Don't listen to any of these false narratives. All I am doing is just dictating and taking care of my career. We put our lives in there, and I am at that point now where I have earned it.”

Lopez said earlier this year that he was looking for more activity in 2024, and so far he’s gotten it, beating Ortiz in February and Steve Claggett in June. Before that,  beat former undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor in June 2023 for the WBO belt he now holds. 

But despite the opportunities, Lopez still appears irritated with Top Rank. Earlier this year, Lopez claimed his career-long promoter gave him too many “take it or leave it” offers.

“I need a promoter and network that is going to push me,” said Lopez. “I'm not saying ESPN is not doing its part, however, it's not what it was before in the beginning, and that's what I don't approve of. I don't appreciate it. I'm the only star that they have left. With everything that I have done for Top Rank and ESPN, I believe that it's time. Just do what I ask. I have done so much for them for nearly eight years. I'm going to sit back and let God do the rest for me. I look forward to coming back again this year. We'll see when.

“I have conquered the [140-pound] division. There is no one at 140. Everyone lost. Nobody wanted to fight us. They went the wrong route, and everybody is out. What more can a guy do? I look forward to making more history. We'll go to 147 and be a three-division world champion at 27. That sounds great. And then from there, we'll go to 154. Or we'll just jump to 154, because we can do it.”

WHY ISRAIL MADRIVOV -- AND UZBEKISTAN -- HAVE A CHANCE TO SHINE

 

Israil Madrimov beat Magomed Kurbanov in March to claim the WBA junior middleweight title. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Israil Madrimov is laser-focused on the biggest fight of his life against Terence Crawford in Los Angeles on Saturday, but he will also be following developments thousands of miles away in Paris.

Boxing in Uzbekistan has never known a more exciting week. Eleven boxers from that country will have competed at the Summer Olympics in Paris by the time Madrimov steps through the ropes at BMO Stadium to face one of boxing's best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) makes his first defense of the WBA junior middleweight title against Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), the slick southpaw from Omaha, Nebraska, who has won world titles in three weight classes. The vacant WBO interim belt will also be on the line for the winner.

It is a huge opportunity for Madrimov, from Khiva, Uzbekistan, who is a superstar in his homeland but is unheralded in the United States, where he spends most of his time.

Madrimov defends his title against Crawford, a former pound-for-pound No. 1 who produced his best win yet in stopping Errol Spence Jr. to become undisputed welterweight champion a year ago. Not only is it the biggest moment of Madrimov's career, this week will also be a defining moment for some of those he trains alongside in California who will potentially be going for medals next week in Paris.

"The Olympics and my fight are probably equally big in Uzbekistan," Madrimov told ESPN. "The Olympics is something the whole country waits four years for. But my fight is the biggest fight any Uzbekistan fighter has been in, against a pound-for-pound No. 1, and on a big stage."

Uzbekistan has one of the strongest boxing teams in Paris and some of the boxers train alongside Madrimov in Indio, California -- a home-away-from-home two hours from Los Angeles for fighters-- such as Bakhodir Jalolov, Abdumalik Khalokov and Hasanboy Dusmatov. Jalolov is a leading contender in Paris at super heavyweight, after winning gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He has also compiled a 14-0 (14 KOs) record as a professional at heavyweight.

"Of course I'm going to be watching some of the Olympics if I can get the time because they are my close friends," Madrimov said. "I know everyone in the Uzbek boxing team. I expect them all to get medals. I train with Jalalov, Dusmatov and others."

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is another who uses the Indio gym and is currently preparing for an undisputed world title clash with fellow Russian Artur Beterbiev. Two years ago, Bivol upset the odds to defeat boxing's biggest star, Canelo Alvarez, and he is an inspiring figure for Madrimov, who is plotting his own big upset against Crawford.

"I have also trained with Dmitry Bivol and there are about 10 or 12 Uzbek fighters who I also train with in Indio," Madrimov said. "Bivol is training in Kyrgyzstan at the moment but we are on the phone a lot supporting each other. He had a very good win against Canelo and of course I pick up things from being around Bivol. He has such a calculating style, he's like a machine in the ring, and everything is like a science with him. We are good friends and it's a privilege being in the same camp as him."

Madrimov, ESPN's No. 3 junior middleweight, won the WBA title with a fifth-round TKO victory over Magomed Kurbanov in March, on the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He's used to being in big events.

Crawford, 36, is stepping up a weight class to face Madrimov, who dismisses theories he is facing a fighter of Crawford's quality too soon in his career. Madrimov has only had 11 fights since turning professional in 2018, but the 29-year-old had nearly 100 fights as an amateur.

"This is my weight and I was fighting at an even higher weight class than 154 pounds as an amateur, so I feel comfortable and strong at this weight," Madrimov said. "People can say whatever they want [about experience], but I'm not paying too much attention to it. I've had good fights against the right opponents to prepare me for this fight versus Crawford. Also, with all the international experience as an amateur, along with the professional fights, I'm well prepared for this moment. I'm at my peak."

Madrimov also understands this fight is "a once in a lifetime opportunity." A win, and everything will change.

"In one moment I can change my life and my family's life, and my friends' lives," Madrimov said. "I will be ready because it is an opportunity for me, my family and my country."

Madrimov's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, is bullish about the fighter known as "The Dream" proving to be a nightmare for Crawford.

"He had such a stellar amateur career and he is also in his absolute prime," Hearn told ESPN. "I think this is the toughest fight of Terence Crawford's career; he has not been up at 154 pounds before and Madrimov is a huge puncher with a very high boxing IQ."

As an underdog (+500 per ESPN BET), Hearn knows that even boxing fans are overlooking him. Still, Madrimov has an opportunity to show his talent to a wider audience, and according to Hearn, this is his moment to show everyone what he can do.

"Terence Crawford is one of the top three pound for pound fights," Hearn said. "He probably edges it on ability, so we have to rely on Madrimov being very good but also his size and power hurting Crawford who is a generational great."

For Hearn, Madrimov is reminiscent of Gennadiy Golovkin, from Kazakhstan, who was also based in California for the last part of his professional career, one that saw him dominate the middleweight division with a 23-fight knockout streak. Hearn sees similarities in Madrimov's style with "GGG", the former unified middleweight champion.

"His movement is different to GGG, but he punches very hard and he has that teak-tough eastern European toughness that Golovkin had," Hearn said. "He's going to get hit, but if he has the toughness to come through that and take Crawford into the trenches, it will be a long night for Terence Crawford.

"There's no pressure and he's already a huge star in Uzbekistan. If he beats Terence Crawford he will probably run for president in Uzbekistan. We did a show in Uzbekistan a few years ago and he always gets mobbed when he's at the airport and in public."

Golovkin is another figure who Madrimov admires, and earlier in his career he appeared on one of Golovkin's undercards in New York City.

"I'm a big fan of Golovkin, I have always admired him for many years, he's one of the best ever," Madrimov said. "It was a pleasure to meet him and then I fought on the undercard of one of his big fights at Madison Square Garden. He's a great human being also, he does a lot of work helping the youth and young boxers. If Eddie thinks I am like Gennadiy, then I'm pleased to hear it."

Polite, respectful, and like Golovkin you won't hear Madrimov bad-mouthing his opponents. Will he be the biggest puncher Crawford has faced, and can he deliver a KO blow?

"We've got a plan and a strategy and the ring will show if I have the power and if I will be the hardest puncher he has faced," Madrimov said. "The ring will show if I'm good enough to be champion."

- Nick Parkinson

JOSEPH PARKER STAYS IN TITLE PICTURE WITH WIN OVER ZHILEI ZHANG

Joseph Parker, right, has rebounded from his 2022 knockout loss to Joe Joyce with victories over top-five heavyweights Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing via Getty Images

 Joseph Parker was floored twice by Zhilei Zhang but otherwise outboxed his foe for large stretches of the heavyweight fight to earn a majority-decision victory on Friday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One judge scored it 113-113 but was overruled by 114-112 and 115-111 tallies for Parker, who upset Deontay Wilder via decision in December. The victory over Zhang is Parker's second consecutive over a heavyweight rated in ESPN's top five and completes a shocking turnaround for the 32-year-old New Zealander.

Parker, a former heavyweight titleholder, was brutally knocked out by Joe Joyce in Round 11 of their September 2022 meeting and was practically written off as a heavyweight contender.

But following three wins over domestic-level opposition last year, Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) punctuated the campaign with a dominant victory over Wilder in a major upset. And now, Parker is positioned for another crack at a heavyweight title on the heels of another upset win.

"This is a great win," said Parker, who entered the ring rated No. 4 by ESPN at heavyweight. "Zhang is a tough man, knocked me down twice. ... I'm very happy. .... We have a rematch [clause], so we're gonna do it again."

Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) dropped Parker in Round 3 after a straight left hand connected flush. Parker, 32, beat the count with a bloody and busted up nose and then continued to outbox the 40-year-old China native.

Parker consistently beat Zhang to the punch with his superior speed and mobility. Zhang weighed 291½ pounds while Parker was 247½. And while there was far more pop behind Zhang's shots, there wasn't nearly enough activity.

That was until Zhang caught Parker again, this time with a sharp right hook that produced the knockdown in Round 8. But Parker again rose to the canvas with a clear head and returned to his jab and movement.

Parker was able to split Zhang's guard with quick one-twos and used his feet to circle around the southpaw. And as Zhang sat on the stool before Round 12, his corner instructed him to score another knockdown. Instead, Zhang landed zero punches in the final round.

Zhang, though, will be afforded another crack at Parker due to the rematch clause. ESPN's No. 5 heavyweight, Zhang's previous loss was a controversial decision defeat to contender Filip Hrgovic in 2022, another bout where he scored a knockdown in defeat.

Following the setback, Zhang scored back-to-back inside-the-distance wins over Joyce, including a spectacular third-round KO in the September rematch. The pair of wins solidified Zhang as ESPN's No. 5 heavyweight, and he was favored to defeat Parker, too.

Instead, it's Parker who is now regarded as the best heavyweight after Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Parker won a heavyweight title in 2016 when he scored a majority-decision win over Andy Ruiz. Parker made two successful defenses before he dropped the belt to Joshua via decision in 2018.

Parker lost his next fight, too, a decision setback to Dillian Whyte that seemed to end any hope of a future title shot. But now, Parker is well-positioned while the trio of top heavyweights settle bragging rights as he looks toward another bout with Zhang.

Ball floors Vargas twice but settles for draw

Rey Vargas had to get off the canvas twice to hold on to the WBC featherweight world title after his fight with Nick Ball was scored a split draw.

Ball overcame an 8½-inch height disadvantage to drop Vargas in Rounds 8 and 11, but it was not enough to win his first world title.

Vargas, who was walked to the ring by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, held on to the belt in his first defense after scores of 114-112 for Vargas, 116-110 for Ball and 113-113.