Teofimo Lopez, the 25-year-old boxing prodigy, has surprised the world by announcing his retirement. The two-time champion revealed his decision on ESPN’s “This Just In” during Monday’s episode, following a retirement message he shared on Instagram a day earlier.

Lopez, who recently became the lineal champion in the super lightweight division after defeating former champion Josh Taylor by unanimous decision, had just added another title to his collection. With the WBO and The Ring super lightweight titles in his possession, it seemed like the perfect time for him to continue his boxing journey. However, Lopez had other plans in mind. Enhance your boxing viewing experience with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.

In an interview, Lopez explained his retirement, stating that he has numerous ideas and aspirations for the sport of boxing that he wants to pursue. He emphasized that he cannot fully commit to these endeavors if he is constantly training and preparing for upcoming fights. As a result, he is currently focused on those future prospects.

While Lopez’s vision for the sport is undoubtedly intriguing, there may be a financial aspect to his decision as well. Leading up to his recent fight, he made several remarks about retirement and expressed the need to “take a break” from boxing. On “The Porter Way Podcast,” he clarified his stance, emphasizing that his desire for retirement stems from a perceived lack of fair compensation for his accomplishments.

Lopez mentioned the significant disparity in earnings between himself and other fighters who have not achieved a fraction of what he has. While he claims to have generated over a hundred million dollars for ESPN, he stated that he is still receiving only a fraction of that amount for his fights. Comparatively, other fighters with lesser achievements are earning multi-million dollar purses. According to Lopez, this has led him to feel like an outsider in the industry, deserving better treatment.

It is worth noting that Lopez has been openly discussing retirement for the past week. His consecutive announcements on ESPN, along with his social media activity, make it evident that he is serious about stepping away from boxing. The lingering question now is whether his retirement will lead to the fulfillment of his demands and the financial compensation he believes he deserves. Only time will tell how this chapter of Teofimo Lopez’s career will unfold. Get the latest updates from the world of boxing only on Nextbet Sports.