Teofimo Lopez replaced by world champ in top 10 P4P list
A new ratings update has seen world champion Teofimo Lopez drop out of the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings to be replaced by another world champion.
This new pound-for-pound and divisional update took place over a seven-week span from January 20th up until March 2nd and so does not include any of the results from the most recent Knockout Chaos card in Saudi Arabia.
The article, posted on Ring TV, comes with the caveat that [Joseph] Parker will be taking the No. 3 spot that ‘Big Bang’ currently occupies after the Panel convenes over the next couple days.”
The rest of the piece details the movers and shakes starting with Lopez who was last out against Jamaine Ortiz. He took a controversial points win after 12 rounds to retain his belt but the lacklustre performance sees him drop out of the list and be replaced by Jesse Rodriguez who is returned to the rankings at No.10.
Debate around that move can be read below.
Anson Wainwright: “Not impressed by Teofimo Lopez against Jamaine Ortiz. Is it enough to take him out? I think we keep him [rated] but I’d be interested to see what others have to say.”
Tris Dixon: “I’d take Teo out. This is the sort of thing that counts against us when we give fighters the benefit of the doubt and they stay in for months after a bad performance. I’d be tempted to reinstate Bam [Jesse Rodriguez]. That said, I realize that means our No.1-rated junior welterweight Haney would be above our champion, Teo [in the pound for pound]. But it is what it is. I think the last few months have shown it costs us to almost ‘grandfather’ fighters in. Pound for pound, in this era, is who is hot. The traditionalist in me might want Teo to stay, but I’d say change it up.”
The other people involved in making these decisions, Adam Abramowitz, Daisuke Sugiura, Wasim Mather and Abraham Gonzalez, all thought Lopez should be removed and ‘Bam Bam’ reinstated after his impressive knockout victory over Sunny Edwards.
Adam Abramowitz: “I would remove Teo after that performance. We just had Bam at number 10 a few weeks ago. He should come back.”
Lopez will be hoping to put on a bettering showing next time out and get back in the rankings he once sat much higher in following his victory over Vasyl Lomanchenko in 2020.