WBO and Ring Magazine super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez claims that he has been 'fired' by Saudi Arabia's boxing chief Turki Alalshikh after explosive rants on social media.
Just weeks after his successful Riyadh Season debut on May 2 against Arnold Barboza Jr in New York, Teo Lopez's tweet revealed, "I just got fired, guys. However, before things get better, bad things must happen first! #Resurrection."
Just hours before that tweet, Teo uploaded a bizarre photo of himself pretending to beg on the streets, along with the caption: "Looking for a new job. #Hireme My son Teofimo Liam needs new goggles and a new spearfish gun."
According to Dan Rafael Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney had been verbally agreed but not signed.
He said, "Per three sources involved, Teofimo Lopez-Devin Haney was agreed to Tuesday night, but not signed, for August 16 in Riyadh at 145 pounds. But fight is now in jeopardy after Teofimo's tweet storm."
The catalyst for the fallout was a tweet from Teo that labelled Alalshikh "the dicatator".
There was a cryptic response from the Saudi Chairman simply stating: "Maturity is to realise, most things don't need a reaction."
Very shortly after, Teo posted: "I just got fired, guys."