Teofimo Lopez is confident he will defeat Jamaine Ortiz in their title clash tomorrow night! Why else would the WBO super lightweight champion be contemplating a career-defining fight against Terence Crawford ahead of it? Previously, the Brooklyn native appeared in an interview with Ariel Helwani and had a lot to say about ‘Bud’ Crawford!

Lopez claimed Crawford only fights “soft” fighters he thinks are easier to defeat. He went as far as to suggest that even Canelo Alvarez, who is on his way out of the sport, would beat the former two-division undisputed champion. And per Lopez’s interview with Naji today, he wasn’t trying to “clout chase.” In fact, he was extremely serious about fighting Crawford and building a legacy for himself.

Teofimo Lopez: “I was the first male undisputed two-time World champion”

While appearing in the interview with Cigar Talk, Lopez casually brought up his callout to Crawford, claiming he was dead serious about it. “Look, I called out Crawford, and I ain’t doing that just to promote my fight. I’m doing that to actually create my legacy, even more solidify it,” said Lopez.

It left Naji a little bit shocked, as he revealed that he knew Lopez wasn’t clout chasing by calling out Crawford, but he thought Lopez wasn’t serious about it. The Las Vegas resident promptly responded, “I don’t clout Chase!” Moreover, when probed further about the callout, Lopez proceeded to elaborate on his intentions. 

Get the EssentiallySports Daily Newsletter. Stay ahead of the game with daily updates, exclusive stories, expert takes, and the biggest moments from the world's most popular sports.

“What’s the point of the best fighting the best? He says he’s the first male two-time Undisputed Champion. I know I was the first male Undisputed two-time World Champion…I know I’m the best. Let’s make it happen,” said Lopez. While Teofimo Lopez is trying to secure a fight against Crawford, the latter has other ideas.

Terence Crawford is still on the Canelo Alvarez train

Canelo Alvarez has two more fights left in his deal with PBC. One of which is supposed to unfold on May 4 for the Cinco de Mayo event. While there is no confirmation on who the opponent could be, fans can’t help but speculate a fight between Crawford and Canelo for the date. Meanwhile, Crawford himself still claims that it is the biggest fight in boxing.

In a tweet from February 4, the undefeated former undisputed champion wrote, “Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez is the biggest fight in boxing right now. Like it or not, it’s just facts.” What’s more, Crawford was supposed to face Errol Spence Jr. in a rematch, but after the latter’s cataract surgery, that flame extinguished quickly! 

Also Read: Terence Crawford Details the “No.1 Thing” He Has Over Other Fighters: “Boxing Is a Thinking Man’s Sport”

With a single day left in his fight against Ortiz, Teofimo Lopez has expressed his desire to take on Terence Crawford in the future. However, it’s yet to be seen whether Crawford accepts the challenge. Who do you think would win if they fought? 

Watch This Story: Terence Crawford, David Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol Rematch, and Other Potential Opponents for Canelo Alvarez