Teofimo Lopez retires at 25 after winning junior welterweight title

Teofimo Lopez is calling it a career just two days after defeating Josh Taylor to win the WBO junior welterweight belt.

"I'm going to be announcing my retirement to the sport of boxing," Lopez told ESPN on Monday. "Blood, sweat, and tears I've done for the sport at a young age - 25 years young."

Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) handed Taylor the first loss of his career with a dominant showing at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

The American appeared to rule out a second fight against George Kambosos Jr. or a bout versus Devin Haney.

"I have a lot of ideas," Lopez said. "I have a lot of things in mind for the sport of boxing. I really can't do that if I'm always in the gym training and preparing for another upcoming fight or bout. So, I'm really just focusing right now on that task."

Lopez suffered the only loss of his professional career against Kambosos in November 2021. A doctor later said that Lopez was lucky to be alive after he fought with air in his chest due to a medical condition known as pneumomediastinum.

His greatest moment in the ring came in October 2020 when he beat Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the undisputed lightweight champion.