Famed Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum said in a Fight Hype interview that Teofimo Lopez is entirely responsible for his fight being rescheduled following a positive COVID test.
Arum left no room for interpretation on the matter saying, “We tell all our fighters ‘you guys are fighting for big money and promoters are laying out big money – get yourself vaccinated so you don’t contact COVID. Fury is fully vaccinated, and I talked with Shelly Finkel a little while ago and he said that Wilder’s been fully vaccinated, and their corners have been vaccinated. That’s taking responsibility. Now Teofimo was off with his Triller thing and so forth. There was no reason why before he went into training that he didn’t get vaccinated. No reason. And if he had gotten vaccinated, he wouldn’t have lost his payday.”
Lopez’s bout against George Kambosos is now scheduled for August 14th on Triller. Regarding the news, Teofimo released a statement on his Twitter last night saying, “By now you’ve heard the news that I have had to withdraw from the fight due to COVID. Being a champion means doing hard things. NO EXCEPTIONS. And I choose to keep my fellow athletes safe. I am devastated to disappoint so many people. I know the sacrifices we have all made to get here. I believe I am doing the right thing. I don’t want to infect anybody. Sport has power. I choose to use my power to be a good example.”
