Who Can Teofimo Lopez Face At 147?

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Feb 23, 2026 3:28 AM ET

Teofimo Lopez is leaving the junior welterweight division behind to pursue a new path at 147.

The decision to move up comes after Lopez dropped a unanimous decision to Shakur Stevenson. Despite a one-sided defeat that saw Stevenson sweep the scorecards with identical 119-109 tallies, Lopez has made it clear that he isn’t looking for a new direction in his corner.

While some analysts suggested a change in leadership, “The Takeover” has confirmed he is sticking with his father, Teofimo Lopez Sr., as his head trainer. Lopez believes their shared history is the key to conquering a third weight class, viewing the move to welterweight as a natural progression rather than a reaction to the Stevenson loss. The pressure is on for Team Lopez to bounce back, but the 28-year-old remains confident that his power will translate to the higher weight. “Maybe 147,” Lopez hinted immediately after the Stevenson fight.

Options

A fight with Devin Haney is arguably the biggest fight that can be made. Haney captured the WBO welterweight title from Brian Norman Jr. in late 2025. Both men have history, having traded verbals on social media. For Lopez, it’s a direct shot at the belt he just lost at 140 (the WBO). For Haney, beating Lopez at 147 would further validate his status as a future Hall-of-Famer.

There is also a potential title shot against Ryan Garcia. Garcia defeated Mario Barrios via unanimous decision to capture the WBC title. A Lopez vs. Garcia fight would be a massive commercial event—likely one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in the sport. With Garcia now holding the WBC strap, Lopez has a clear target to become a three-weight world champion.

The IBF belt is held by Lewis Crocker. While Crocker may not have the name recognition of Garcia or Haney in the States, he is a rugged, hard-hitting champion who would provide a tough war. If the Haney and Garcia fights are tied up, Lopez could look to the IBF to snag a belt quickly. It would be a “lower risk, fight in terms of the names on offer, but it would achieve Lopez’s goal of becoming a three-division champion.

The Future

The decision Lopez makes is vital for his career. The Takeover was visibly disappointed after the Shakur loss, as he weighs up where he goes next.

“[I don’t appreciate what I’ve done in my career]. I hate myself for it, but it’s part of it. It’s just part of the life. I don’t appreciate it. I think that I get butchered and I think God punishes me a lot for it. I’m just a punching bag to that. Maybe one day I’ll get to that, but not yet. It’s all good. I just never got my fair share. Not once, man. But, hey, that’s just my journey. I just gotta keep it moving … We’ll be back in some way, some form … I’m in a good position to be here and take it on the chin like a real champ,” Lopez said

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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