Via Sean Jones: Paulie Malignaggi expects Teofimo Lopez to quickly retire as soon as the WBO says they will strip him of his right to play because of his retirement announcement.
Teofimo (19-1, 13 KOs) needs the WBO lightweight title won last weekend Josh Taylor as a chess pieces in negotiation to make more money, which seems to be what he really wants.
The way Teofimo made such a big production of his newly won belt after the match, wanting to keep it inside the ring, made it impossible to believe he would retire.
Malgggi views Teofimo’s retirement talk as what we’ve seen with Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have done in the past. In other words, the old pensioner bit to attract public attention.
If Teofimo does this because he wants him to feel praised, loved, and appreciated by his fans, it’s a pathetic way for him to get there.
With Teo, fans think that this is just a troll or reckless trick to get more public attention after surpassing Taylor. Perhaps Teofimo realized that fans would quickly lose interest, so he came up with a way to retire.
Teo needs a good PR person who can give him ideas to get the boxing public interested in him between matches without having to push the nuclear button by talking about retirement or what he wants. How to “kill” your opponent.
A good public relations person can come up with ideas that will make Teofimo famous instead of damaging it.
“Yes, he announced his retirement, but I think that’s one of the things that boxers do these days. They just announced their retirement, and they continued to fight. I know Tyson Fury did it,” said Paulie Malignaggi Youtube channel about Teofimo Lopez announcing his retirement.
“I will tell you what. Once they tell him, they will strip him [WBO] world title if he retired, I think, he wouldn’t announce it; he will retire, and then he will start new deals and things like that,” Malignaggi said.
“If indeed, his contract with ESPN and Top Rank has expired, which I don’t know but based on the way he talks, I think this could be his last battle on the contract. I don’t know, but I’m curious to know.
“Mayweather started that tradition, and I think in the UFC we have the same weekend as Amanda Nunez who retired on Saturday. I don’t think either of these people is retiring. I think we’ll see them fight.
“I think Teofimo Lopez will also make the list of the big names in the 140-pound weight class, and I think he will be a guy that people will continue to want to watch. People will mention him among the big names, and I tell you what, man.
“He won’t be easy to deal with. He said he will be leaving ESPN after this game, which means he could leave the Top Rated. I wonder if that would be the case. Right now, he had to decide.
“Acknowledge Taylor for hanging tough. He’s a proud Scott. Personally, I think Josh Taylor is the best Scottish boxer I’ve ever seen.
“He has been very, very good in his career and I think this is a very impressive win for Teofimo. People will tone it down a bit because of the way Taylor looks at Catterall, but that just shows you Catterall’s level and how cunning he can be, too. But a well-deserved win for Teofimo Lopez,” Malignaggi said.
