WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez has never shied away from speaking his mind, often toeing the line between bold and confrontational. From heated exchanges with Terence Crawford to recent jabs at former training partner Canelo Alvarez, Lopez has built a reputation for stirring the pot. So, it’s hardly surprising that he’s now found himself at odds with the boss, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
You see, Teofimo Lopez’s fight against Arnold Barboza Jr. on May 2, 2025, was his first collaboration with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. The event, held in Brooklyn, New York, was promoted as part of Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season initiative, marking Lopez’s debut under the Saudi-backed boxing banner. However, after what transpired behind the scenes recently, ‘The Takeover’ shouldn’t expect any of that anymore.
While what exactly happened to cause the separation is currently unknown, the 27-year-old hopped on X recently to write, “I just got fired, guys… However, before things get better, bad things must happen first!” If that wasn’t enough, he took further jabs at the GEA Chairman, writing, “DICKtator @Turki_alalshikh” in another post. Of course, the Saudi Advisor had to respond in kind, as he took to X himself.
“Maturity is to realize, most things don’t deserve a reaction,” Alalshikh wrote in his response. It’s worth noting that ‘The Takeover’ was pushing for a fight against IBF and WBA welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis later this year. Lopez had hoped that the Saudi Royal would make the fight happen for a hefty paycheck. This could have been the reason behind their rift, but now, Lopez can forget about that happening entirely.
Since Alalshikh’s response to the drama, Lopez has come up with a counter, featuring his blunt sense of humor. “LOOKING FOR a NEW JOB,” he wrote on X while sharing a picture of himself as a homeless person. “My son Teofimo Liam needs new goggles and a new spearfish gun!” While Lopez loses out on backing from His Excellency, there’s an update on the Ennis fight.
Eddie Hearn on Teofimo Lopez vs. Jaron Ennis
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn shared his thoughts on the potential Lopez vs. Ennis fight, acknowledging the difficulty Ennis faces in making the 147-pound limit again. “I think the big question is whether Boots stays at 147, if I’m honest,” Hearn told BoxingScene. Despite dominating Eimantas Stanionis in his last outing, Hearn has doubts about Ennis’ level of performance in the division.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 13: Jaron Ennis weighs in at the Westin LAX for his IBF welterweight fight against Custio Clayton being held at Dignity Health Sports Park, on May 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
“It’s not just can you make it? It’s can you make it and perform at your best?” Hearn explained. Even though the potential Lopez bout presents a lucrative opportunity, Hearn has opted for Ennis’ health and performance over a fat paycheck. “If he stays at 147, he’ll fight Teofimo Lopez, and if he doesn’t, obviously you’ll see him move to 154,” Hearn said. With a limited prospect of unification at welterweight and a difficult weight cut, Ennis may choose to move up to super welterweight, leaving Lopez high and dry.
That said, Teofimo Lopez might not even get to fight Jaron Ennis, as he ruined his relationship with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. However, only time will tell whether Lopez and Alalshikh’s rift continues to expand or they eventually hash out their differences. What do you think about the situation?
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