Teofimo Lopez Slams Dana White and Rejects Zuffa Boxing Deal Over Lack of Respect
Teofimo Lopez felt disrespected by the offer that Dana White led Zuffa Boxing made to him and he revealed why he chose to sign with DAZN instead.
When Dana White and Zuffa Boxing set their sights on making a major splash in the sweet science, they likely expected top-tier fighters to line up for a shot at the spotlight. But two-division world champion Teofimo Lopez was not having any of it.
"The Takeover" pulled no punches when discussing why he turned down an opportunity to align with the UFC CEO's emerging boxing venture. Speaking candidly about the offer, Lopez explained that the proposed setup felt like a step backward for a fighter of his stature, pointing out a stark contrast in venue scale and overall respect.
“How can you go from the most attendance ever recorded at Madison Square Garden, with over 22,000 people in attendance, and go back to a small room?” Lopez questioned. “Zuffa wanted me to be part of the Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins card in New York, but in the Theater. A lot of things didn’t play out the way I wanted to see it, how I envisioned it. And then the things that occurred with Zuffa and the sanctioning bodies, hearing those things, it’s just a lot of scuffle.”
Weighing Safety, Value, and Strategic Partnerships
For the 21-1 superstar, taking a fight inside The Theater at MSG, a smaller adjacent venue inside the main arena, felt like a massive disservice. Having already headlined major pay-per-views and dismantled elite competition like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, Lopez expected a stage fitting for a pound-for-pound star.
The promotional friction surrounding Zuffa Boxing and traditional sanctioning bodies only added to his hesitation. Instead, the Brooklyn native opted to secure a far more favorable situation elsewhere, praising DAZN for offering a structure that safeguards fighter interests under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
“When it came to DAZN, the offer was great,” Lopez added. “We get to audit them, we get to do a lot of safety measures just to be safe with anything that ever comes up when it comes to the Ali Act.”
Despite Zuffa’s deep financial backing and combat sports muscle, Lopez’s refusal highlights the ongoing battle between traditional boxing stars and UFC-style promotional control. Holding a formidable record with 13 victories coming by knockout, Lopez knows his worth in the combat market. For now, he remains firmly focused on high-stakes headliners rather than taking what he views as a backseat under the Zuffa banner.
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