By Norm Frauenheim

Teofimo Lopez is coming off a one-sided loss with a rich new deal that coincides with a move upscale and a primetime birthday.

Call it a bet.

DAZN signed Lopez to a $20-million, multi-fight contract before his bid for a third divisional title at welterweight against Rolly Romero August 22 and after he turned 29 years old on July 30.

The timing, double-edged, is intriguing for his potential on one side and risky for his past on the other.

The risk: Lopez’ loss to Shakur Stevenson, who delivered a masterpiece –119-109 on all three scorecards – the last time we saw Lopez on January 31 at Madison Square Garden. Lopez never had a chance, yet DAZN invested in him anyway.

The potential: Lopez displayed newfound maturity in a realistic acceptance of the loss to Stevenson. At 29, fighters mature, physically and personally. After a couple of troubling meltdowns earlier in his career, a grown-up Lopez might be poised to fulfill his evident potential as he enters his prime at 147 pounds.

Perhaps wiser, Lopez still has the edgy confidence of the younger man. He’s the first to sign a unique deal with DAZN. More are expected to follow.

“The Zone has started with The Takeover,’’ Lopez said, jumping at the chance to mention his nickname – also the name of his promotional company, during a media workout in Los Angeles about 10 days before opening bell at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Lopez is favored to take the World Boxing Association welterweight belt from Romero, a friend who took the title from Ryan Garcia in a notable upset.

If the odds are accurate, it’s the beginning of a lucrative second chapter for Lopez, known for victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, yet also remembered for a loss he would not accept against George Kambosos Jr..

When asked why he signed with DAZN, Lopez was quick to answer:

“It was a no-brainer.’’

Garcia looms as possibility for the winner, either against Lopez in a fight of two known names or against Romero in a rematch. Garcia — almost a 4-to-1 favorite, according to some books — is expected to beat Conor Benn on Sept. 12, also at T- Mobile. 

By Norm Frauenheim

In a rare show of unity in boxing’s balkanized state, an alliance of promoters and a streaming service staged a news conference, introduced young fighters, plans, possibilities and one intriguing fight.

In a predictable counter and a sure sign that unity in boxing is still an oxymoron, a rival promotional entity sent out a news release announcing it had signed one of the game’s biggest names.

It was that kind of day. Pick a side? Not exactly, at least not for fans, who on Thursday witnessed an emerging battleground for control of the fight game.

On the unified side, there was Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and DAZN with a blueprint for the rest of 2026, including an intriguing fight Aug. 22 featuring resilient champion Rolly Romero against Teofimo Lopez in Lopez’ welterweight debut at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena.

For the entertaining Lopez, a shot at a third-division belt is a step up and perhaps away from his last fight, a one-sided loss at junior-welterweight to multi-division champion Shakur Stevenson in January.

“When I face the champion, I’ll be 29,’’ said Lopez, whose manager Keith Connolly said the Romero fight will launch Lopez into a series of mega-fights.. “I’ve got a lot of good prominent years left. I’m gonna answer all the questions on August 22.’’

Presumably, one will be a definitive answer to what happened against Stevenson, whose masterful performance against Lopez put him among the top five in the pound-for-pound debate.

Only Lopez’ volatile father and trainer, Teofimo Sr., referred to his son’s last fight in what was almost almost an aside during the newser. It didn’t resonate.

In an almost choreographed response, Zuffa followed up the Romero-Lopez newser by announcing what everybody already knew. Stevenson signed.

 

“Line them up, one-by one, and I’ll beat all the top guys once I get them in front of me,’’ the news release quoted Stevenson as saying. “With Zuffa Boxing, I’m going to go after the biggest fights in the sport and I will become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.’’

Who and when weren’t included in the Zuffa release. Teofimo Lopez wasn’t mentioned either. But the timing clearly said he was the target, probably just one of many in a rivalry still in its infancy.