The heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder is not the only championship fight in jeopardy due to a positive COVID-19 test. One month ago, lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. tested positive for COVID-19 and his bout against George Kambosos was postponed indefinitely.
“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,” Lopez tweeted after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Initially, the bout was expected to take place in Florida on August 14. In the wake of Lopez’s positive COVID-19 test, Triller is looking to move the bout from North America to Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Australia on October 17. However, Lopez and his manager, David McWater, are pushing back against relocating the fight to Australia.
“That’s our major objection: to ask a guy to fly international and cut weight for 14 days while in quarantine. It’s not right,” McWater said.
“One guy is at a distinct disadvantage.”
If the fight does not take place in October, Lopez would be in jeopardy of losing the IBF Lightweight Championship. At this time, it does not appear that McWater or Lopez are afraid of that potential reality. Moreover, the duo appears to be against fighting the title challenger in his home country.
“I don’t think we’ll have to give up the title. I think if they want to move [the fight] that far back the IBF will rule. But fine, if we have to, we’ll give up the title and he can fight [next-available contender] Isaac Cruz somewhere for $70,000 [for the vacant title]. One of these guys is the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The other is a mandatory contender. I don’t know when they became equals,” McWater added.
If Lopez does not defend his title, Kambosos will fight Issac Cruz in a vacant title bout.
