Teofimo Lopez is reportedly ‘finalising a deal’ to defend his WBO super lightweight title against Subriel Matias on March 15.
That is according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, who reports that the fight will headline a Top Rank Boxing card on ESPN+ PPV in the United States.
Lopez picked up the WBO crown in June 2023 by beating former undisputed 140lbs champion Josh Taylor last year.
He then followed that victory up with a pair of unremarkable wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.
‘The Takeover’ has been chasing unification clashes with the other champions in the division to no avail and will instead take on former IBF title holder Matias next.
Matias is looking to bounce back after losing his belt to Liam Paro in June.
He returned to the ring last month to blast out Roberto Ramirez in two rounds and has now found himself in a position to challenge for world titles again.
Matias boasts a 100 per cent knockout-to-win ratio with all 21 of his victories (21-2) coming inside the distance.
He scooped the IBF title with a fifth-round TKO of Jeremias Ponce in February 2023 and then retired Shohjahon Ergashev on his stool at the end of the sixth round before running into Paro.
The Puerto Rican puncher is promoted by Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn, who was planning on having Lopez and Matias unify their WBO and IBF titles when his fighter was still in possession of the red and gold strap.
“I want him [Matias] to fight all the big fights at 140lbs,” Hearn told the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel in February.
“You’ve got the winner of Haney against Ryan Garcia, just give me Teofimo Lopez for Subriel Matias.
“Please if you’re watching this, Teofimo Lopez please fight Subriel Matias, it will make me smile.”
Lopez offered to box Matias last year but their schedules didn’t line up.
“He is a coward,” said Matias at the time. “He says that he has offered to fight me and the reason why he has made that fight is because I recently fought and I won’t be ready and prepared for that fight.
“If he is a man of his word then he will take the fight with me.
“And a message for his dad: stopping talking s*** to me.
“If he wants to fight me, he can fight me. There are dates: April and March.
“If he wants to face me then he needs to stop being a coward and stop talking s***.”
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