Teofimo Lopez recently sat down with Punsh Drunk Boxing, to discuss his thoughts on the current state of the sport, including some insightful commentary on fellow boxers like Terence Crawford and Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Lopez’s understanding of the boxing world is multifaceted, pulling from his personal experiences and vast knowledge of the sport.
“One thing that stands out to me in the 147 division, is that no one’s really calling out Spencer or Crawford,” said Lopez, discussing the world of welterweight boxing. “Right now, those two are the only ones calling each other out.”
Lopez had special praise for up-and-coming welterweight star, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. The pair won the 2015 National Golden Gloves together at the young age of 17, and Lopez has been following his career ever since.
“‘Boots’ Ennis is the real deal,” Lopez stated with conviction. “The only one I know that can beat Terence Crawford is Boots.”
Comparing Ennis to boxing great Roy Jones Jr., Lopez added, “I used to say he’s the second coming to Roy Jones Jr. People would accuse me of prematurely predicting his success, but I’ve been watching the amateurs. That’s how I know about Boots.”
Lopez’s connections within the boxing industry are deep-rooted and personal. He recounted his long-standing relationships with other boxing figures like Gary Russell Jr., Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia, most of whom he knew since they were 12 years old.
“I’ve known Tank since he was 12, Shakur at 12, Devin Haney at 12, Ryan Garcia at 12. They were always all around each other, being friends and everything,” Lopez shared.
Remembering his history with the Russell family, he said, “I used to train a little bit with the Russells. I met them when I was eight years old. Their father, rest in peace, just passed not too long ago, a year ago. But yeah, I grew up with all them guys.”
According to Teofimo Lopez, his understanding of the boxing world isn’t confined to the professional arena. He stated, “I pay attention to the pros, but I’ve been following some of these guys since the amateurs. That’s what I know about Boots, that’s what I know about you, that’s all I know about Demetrius, and that’s what I know about Gary Russell Jr.”
