Teófimo López is an American professional boxer known for his achievements in the ring. He has held world championship titles in two weight classes: light welterweight and lightweight. Some of his most notable titles include the WBO and Ring magazine light welterweight titles (held since 2023) and the unified WBA, IBF, WBO, and Ring lightweight titles (held between 2019 and 2021). Before turning professional, López represented Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics as an amateur boxer.
Teofimo Lopez's paternal grandfather, a Spaniard from Ávila, was born in 1916. He later emigrated, living in Brazil before settling in Honduras.
Teofimo Andrés López Rivera was born on July 30, 1997, in Brooklyn, New York, to Honduran immigrants.
Teofimo Lopez showcased his amateur boxing prowess by winning the National Golden Gloves in 2015.
Teofimo Lopez's professional boxing career took off in October 2016 when he signed with Top Rank, a prominent boxing promotion company.
In 2016, Teofimo Lopez competed at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, representing Honduras. He faced eventual silver medalist Sofiane Oumiha but was defeated.
Representing Honduras, Teofimo Lopez competed in the men's lightweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Teofimo Lopez gained widespread attention in December 2018 with a knockout victory against veteran boxer Mason Menard. His performance was considered a potential "knockout of the year".
Teofimo Lopez continued his rise in the lightweight division with a fifth-round knockout victory against former world title challenger Edis Tatli on April 20, 2019. The fight took place at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
On April 23, 2019, Teofimo Lopez married Cynthia Lopez, who he met on a Delta Air Lines flight after his 9th pro fight. Cynthia, originally from Nicaragua, was a flight attendant on that flight. The couple honeymooned in Greece.
On July 19, 2019, Teofimo Lopez faced undefeated Masayoshi Nakatani in a final eliminator bout for the IBF world lightweight title. Lopez won by unanimous decision, securing his shot at the championship.
Teofimo Lopez achieved a significant career milestone on December 14, 2019, by defeating Richard Commey to capture the IBF lightweight title. He secured a second-round technical knockout victory.
Teofimo Lopez's career reached new heights in 2019 when he became the unified World Boxing Association (WBA) (Super version), International Boxing Federation (IBF), WBO, and Ring lightweight champion.
In September 2020, Teofimo Lopez agreed to a high-stakes unification fight against Vasiliy Lomachenko, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated boxing matches of the year.
On February 12, 2021, Teofimo Lopez took to social media to denounce injustice and express solidarity with victims of racial violence. His message specifically showed support for Asian communities worldwide amidst a rise in anti-Asian racism in 2021 and coincided with Lunar New Year.
Initially scheduled for June 5, 2021, Teofimo Lopez's first defense of his unified lightweight championship against George Kambosos Jr. faced multiple postponements due to complications, including Lopez testing positive for COVID-19 and disputes regarding the fight venue. These delays added complexity to the lead-up to the bout.
Teofimo Lopez's fight with George Kambosos Jr. was postponed after Lopez tested positive for COVID-19 on June 15, 2021.
In 2021, Teofimo Lopez experienced a setback in his boxing career when he lost his unified lightweight titles to George Kambosos Jr.
On August 13, 2022, Teofimo Lopez made his debut in the light welterweight division, aiming to bounce back from his previous loss. He secured a seventh-round technical knockout victory against Pedro Campa, marking a successful start in the new weight class.
On December 10, 2022, Teofimo Lopez faced Sandor Martin in his second fight at the 140-pound limit. The bout was competitive, with Lopez facing a knockdown in the second round. Ultimately, he secured a split decision victory, but the close nature of the fight raised questions about his performance.
On April 8, 2023, it was officially confirmed that Teofimo Lopez would challenge Josh Taylor for the WBO and The Ring light welterweight titles, aiming to become a champion in two weight divisions.
By June 2023, Teofimo Lopez achieved recognition as a top light welterweight boxer, earning high rankings from prominent organizations such as The Ring magazine, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and ESPN.
In 2023, Teofimo Lopez secured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and Ring magazine light welterweight titles, marking his dominance in a second weight class.
Teofimo Lopez successfully defended his WBO light welterweight title for the first time on February 8, 2024, in Las Vegas, defeating Jamaine Ortiz by unanimous decision.
Teofimo Lopez further solidified his reign as WBO light welterweight champion by successfully defending his title for the second time. He won on a unanimous points decision against Steve Claggett at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida, on June 29, 2024.