Teofimo Lopez has publicly requested to join the undercard of the surprising Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis boxing event scheduled for November. The current WBO light welterweight champion expressed his interest in participating in what's shaping up to be one of boxing's most unexpected matchups of 2025.
"I don't know about anyone else, but congratulations to all those in play for the November 14th 'El Gallo' VS. 'Tank' event. I'd love to fight on their card as another exhibition! I believe it'd be fun and historical," Lopez wrote on social media on August 22.
Fans haven't exactly embraced Lopez's eagerness to join the card. Many have criticized him for "begging" to be included in what's currently billed as an exhibition match between YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul and the significantly more accomplished "Tank" Davis.
The criticism stems partly from the perception that Lopez might be avoiding his expected showdown with Shakur Stevenson. However, Lopez quickly addressed these concerns later the same day, confirming that he has indeed accepted an offer to face Stevenson in early 2026.
Interestingly, this unusual situation developed after Paul called out Davis and Anthony Joshua following his victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. What initially seemed like a joke has materialized into an actual boxing event, though questions remain about the specifics. Will there be special safeguards to protect Paul? How much weight will Davis gain for the matchup?
Despite these uncertainties, Lopez appears determined to have the best of both worlds – an exhibition payday on the Netflix-streamed Paul-Davis card and a legitimate championship bout against Stevenson afterward. Previously, Lopez had mentioned January 2026 as the target date for the Stevenson fight.
Can Lopez successfully navigate these dual ambitions? Boxing fans remain skeptical until they see official confirmation of both opportunities.
