New York – Teófimo López recognizes why skeptics think they shouldn’t fight Jaron Ennis.
Ennis, from Philadelphia, is a life of a lifetime whose jaw has resisted bumps of fighters larger than Lopez without any problem. Ennis’s highest and greatest range also seems to be physically prepared to prosper in the Superwelter division, two categories above where López has competed during the last 2½ years.
However, López loves challenges, so the Welter Junior weight champion of The Ring and Omb wants to try himself against another elite talent like Ennis. The opportunity to become a champion in a third division also attracts López, 27, who could add a third belt from The Ring to his curriculum if he manages to defeat Ennis (34-0, 30 knockouts, 1 NC).
López, from Las Vegas (22-1, 13 knockouts), considers Rolando “Rolly” Romero as a possible opponent, now that the former AB Super League champion surprised Ryan García (24-2, 20 knockouts, 1 NC) in the main event of the billboard of “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” of The Ring on Friday night in Times Square.
López, who defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 knockouts) by unanimous decision on Friday night, he clarified during his press conference after the fight to challenge Ennis for the championships of The Ring, IBF and AB of 147 pounds is his preference over fighting against Romero (17-2, 13 knockouts).
“I don’t know. It depends on my team. It depends on everyone,” López said. “I think Rolly definitely mentioned before at the press conference that he still wants to see Garcia and [Devin] Haney, no matter what. And it depends on him at this point. I already decided who I want to face, and that is Jaron Ennis, ‘boots’. Many people believe that I am too small for that, but it’s not about who is the smallest. It’s about who is the smartest. And I think I have all the tools to [conseguir] three divisions of the linear world title. “
-Ennis is more interested in completely unifying Welter’s titles. To achieve this, the 27-year-old would have to defeat the WBC champion Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) and the OLB champion Brian Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 knockouts, 1 NC).
Norman, from Conyers, Georgia, is scheduled for an optional defense of the Japanese title Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 knockouts) on June 19 at the OTA-CITY General Gymnasium in Tokyo. Barrios, from San Antonio, could fight Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 knockouts) in July, if the Philippine legend leaves the retirement.
Ennis is expected to return to the ring at some time in October. Its promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, has already had preliminary conversations with Norman’s managers to make that fight. Norman must defeat Sasaki.
López expects Ennis to change his mind and seriously consider him as his opponent.
“I have that champion mentality, as you can see here at the table,” López said, pointing out his champion belts exhibited on the podium. “If he is a champion, as he says, and got his first world title of Ring magazine, I think he is definitely waiting to defend him. I hope so.”
Keith Idec is a writer and senior columnist for The Ring. It can be contacted in x @idecboxing.
