Terence Crawford Leaves Teofimo Lopez “In Shambles” With Gorilla KO Gag

Teofimo Lopez and Terence Crawford have never exactly been on friendly terms—far from it. And things haven’t cooled down lately. While Lopez is a technical standout in the ring, boasting just one career loss to George Kambosos Jr., his conduct outside the ropes often raises eyebrows. Currently riding a six-fight win streak, Lopez’s latest victory came after a hard-fought 12-round battle against Arnold Barboza Jr. at the Fatal Fury event in Times Square on May 2nd. However, the celebration didn’t last long.

Just a week after defending his WBO super lightweight and Ring Magazine title, The Takeover found himself under scrutiny once again. This time, for allegedly using a racial slur in a clip when referencing Terence Crawford. As usual, it angered many. The WBO reportedly held a meeting to address the incident, though no development has emerged on that front yet. Still, rather than lying low, Teofimo Lopez seems intent on stirring the pot, taking fresh jabs at Crawford.

Teofimo Lopez slams DAZN boxing for their Terence Crawford post

Yesterday, Terence Crawford lit up Instagram with a new post. Sharing three images of himself next to a small troop of gorillas while out on a safari, the 37-year-old captioned the photos with a tongue-in-cheek line, “What 100 man? I knocked out a silver back a long time ago and took pictures with his babies. ,” very much in line with the ongoing trend of asking fighters if they can win against a gorilla if a hundred of them banded together. The comment was clearly in jest. The post quickly gained traction, and just a few hours later, DAZN Boxing shared a screengrab with the caption: “@terencecrawford is built DIFFERENT .”

While the internet had a good laugh, not everyone was amused, especially not Teofimo Lopez. Just five hours after DAZN’s post went live, Lopez took the opportunity to throw some shade Crawford’s way. He jumped into the comment section, writing: “@peta, how can they promote such a thing like this jokingly? @DAZNBoxing promoting animal cruelty is not the move. I am in Shambles .” At first glance, it may seem like the 27-year-old is simply expressing concern for the gorillas. But for those who know him, it a in likelihood another crack at getting a rise out of the two-division undisputed champion.

.@terencecrawford is built DIFFERENT

(: IG/tbudcrawford) pic.twitter.com/5yvZAhiTN8

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 22, 2025

For Teofimo Lopez, who was confronted by Terence Crawford at the Last Crescendo event back in February for his previous concerning statements, this felt like the perfect opening to reignite their rivalry. The irony, however, didn’t go unnoticed. While many brushed off Crawford’s post as a playful jab in line with boxing bravado, Lopez’s outrage didn’t quite land the same way. Fans were quick to point out the double standard, especially considering his previous controversial and seemingly racist comments.

However, controversies aside, there’s no denying that Teofimo Lopez has a major opportunity knocking on his door. And it might just overshadow the drama. Why, you ask?

Teofimo Lopez has got the gas tank

While Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz were in Queens promoting their July 13 bout at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh unexpectedly phoned in and stirred the pot. “And now, in front of everyone, we are ready. We are ready to do big fights,” he declared. Without missing a beat, HE Alalshikh hinted at blockbuster bouts lined up for both August and October. Further adding that, “I’m talking with Matchroom–with Eddie Hearn, to do Boots [Ennis] vs Teofimo [Lopez].”

So, if this fight gets the green light, it would mark a major move for Lopez, jumping from super lightweight to welterweight to face IBF champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. Both Lopez and Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, have since confirmed that talks are real and ongoing. It’s a bold step, and if Lopez pulls it off, it could reshape the trajectory of his career entirely.

Even Timothy Bradley weighed in with praise for Lopez’s potential, saying, “That boy Teofimo Lopez—he’s got some lungs too when he’s full-fledged and hungry. He got lungs, too.” But don’t expect Ennis to be impressed by that sentiment. If the fight happens, it will be a war.

So, what do you think? Is Teofimo Lopez setting the stage for a massive comeback? Or is he still walking a dangerous line with his antics?

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