TEOFIMO LOPEZ has surprisingly thrown his support to Jake Paul’s exhibition bout against Gervonta Davis.
Paul faces lightweight champion Davis on November 14 live on Netflix.
Teofimo Lopez has surprisingly thrown his support to Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis[/caption]
Davis faces Jake Paul on November 14[/caption]
But due to the massive weight difference, it will NOT be a professionally-sanctioned fight counting towards their records.
Several of Davis’ rivals have slammed the WBA champion for opting to face Paul in the spectacle showdown – but Lopez isn’t one of them.
“I’m just excited. Let’s see it happen, that’s all it is, it’s good entertainment,” he told SunSport.
“It’s comical, right? Big guy versus little guy facing each other and it’s almost like celebrity boxing. That’s all it is.”
Davis drew with Lamont Roach, 30, in March but snubbed a rematch to instead take on Paul.
The unbeaten American star has also faced criticism in the past for not taking on the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and Lopez.
But Lopez – once an unified champ at lightweight – does not frown upon Davis’ exhibition with Paul.
He grew up boxing with Davis in the amateurs and knows all too well that Tank is only going to do what Tank wants to do.
“He couldn’t care less,” Lopez said.
“He wouldn’t go out his way sometimes even if he he knew he could make the weight to fight in those tournaments and he was like, ‘I’m not gonna do it.’
“He was that kind of character and he’s still bringing that into the professionalism of it he just cares about what he wants.
“So you can’t be upset about it, can’t be mad at it either. The man wants to do what he wants to do.
“That’s why it’s his career, we have our own and our own version of what we wanna do and how we wanna take it.
“So it’s not disappointing. Maybe to the fans, maybe to those out there that really supported him and still are, maybe those that really could see him become one of the top best, if not greatest of this time.
“But you know, you can’t take a horse and make him drink water.”
Paul, 28, usually fights in the 200lb cruiserweight division while Davis, 30, is a 135lb lightweight.
So the fight will be an exhibition over ten rounds of three minutes, with 12oz gloves on.
A winner will be declared – by either decision or knockout – but the result will not count towards the victor’s record.
Lopez, 28, meanwhile is in talks to defend his 140lb WBO title against Shakur Stevenson, also 28, next year.
“We’re talking and we’re very adamant about me and Shakur Stevenson facing each other in the early 2026,” Lopez confirmed.
“It’s all about now just finalizing it officially with our teams and with the people that are actually putting the money in.
“And then once that happens I can’t wait.”
Shakur Stevenson is in talks to fight Lopez[/caption]
