Teofimo Lopez has been actively seeking a matchup with welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, but according to ESPN, he is now finalizing a deal to defend his 140 lb WBO title against former IBF champion Subriel Matias. The fight is expected to take place on March 15 as the headline event of an ESPN+ PPV.
Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) has won his last five fights since his loss to George Kambosos in 2021, although his victories over Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz were not particularly dominant. Most recently, Lopez scored a wide unanimous decision win over Steve Claggett in June.
On the other hand, Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) had a fearsome reputation in the 140 lb division until he lost his title to Liam Paro in a fight where he was the heavy favorite. This setback prompted Matias to take a step back in competition and secure a stoppage victory over Roberto Ramirez in November.
If this fight comes to fruition, it is sure to be action-packed. However, with Matias’ reputation not as strong as it was six months ago, there are doubts about whether it will be a suitable choice for a PPV headliner.
