Looking like a dark, scary vampire at the Ring Awards on Saturday, Teofimo Lopez said he chose not to fight Subriel Matias because he didn't want to be “step stool” To help the recently defeated IBF light welterweight champion.

He said Matias couldn't win the fight, and he didn't feel he had anything to gain by helping the former champ rebuild. Although Teo was helped to rebuild after his loss, he saw no point in helping anyone else be in the position he was in in 2021.

Moreover, Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) said he is a “Big Guarantee” Top promoter Bob Aram said the fight was not PPV-worthy. It is not clear what kind of money 27-year-old Teofimo was looking to get from the top spot as his “insurance”, but a deal could not be struck.

Teofimo is now sitting on the shelf without a fight, and has already been out of the ring for seven months since his expected hard-fought victory over journeyman Steve Claggett on June 29 last year.

Lopez said Matias was the only option that ranked him top. It wasn't “multiple options” and he says he “put his foot down” because he was tired of the “take it or leave it” fight he was given.

“I think it's time for me to fight bigger and better. Matias is trying to bounce back from his loss to Liam Paro in his home country,” said Teofimo Lopez. Fight Hub TV On why he turned down a fight against Subriel Matias. “I thought to myself, why am I going to be a step stool for that guy?

“He won't win. Of course not. Top Rank CEO Bob Aram noted that the fight was not worth the pay-per-view. i agree Chairman Bob Aram said this. Others who were involved in this situation, they really wanted to push for PPV.

“I said if that's the case, I need insurance. 'Give me a big guarantee, and then we can start talking about fighting. I am ready to fight now.' Things did not come out in perspective. They knocked it out. They said I performed in bad faith for the fight, but in reality, they only gave us an option,” Lopez said.

In hindsight, Teofimo made the right decision not to fight Matias (21-2, 21 KO) because he had a great chance of losing. Matias will thrive against Lopez's fighting style and is on another level to Jorge Cambos Jr., who has proven to be Teo's kryptonite.

New Yorker Lopez can't handle pressure fighters. We saw that in 2020 upset wins against Cambossos, Jamaine Ortiz and his 2020 next round over Vassily Lomachenko.

“The Warriors didn't have multiple options, and they didn't want to consolidate,” Teofimo said of the summit. “They didn't want to pay x amount of dollars to certain fighters. I just don't understand. It feels like a shot at me. I'm going to take it as my opinion as my market.”

It's understandable why Top Rank wouldn't pay an arm and a leg to set up a unification fight for Teofimo against another champion since it wouldn't be PPV. He's not popular enough, and the other champions at 140 aren't big names.

Champions at Light Welterweight

– Jose 'Rayo' Valenzuela
– Richardson Hitchins
– Alberto Puelo

“You have to think of it as a business perspective, and I'm coming into this year,” Teofimo said. “I do PPV, wouldn't you rather see it open to the public on linear TV than my first year back in 2025? Why should I charge you guys? You guys are there for us to watch. It must be free. ESPN and the networks, they still get their cut, and so do we. Open to all.

“I just put my foot down. I'm fighting 'take it or leave it' for you guys (Top Rank), and I can't do it anymore,” said Lopez.