He may or may not enter the ring, but Teofimo Lopez never runs short of ideas. After delivering the best fight at May 2’s Fatal Fury, the light-welterweight champion is looking forward to a historic clash with his longtime rival, Shakur Stevenson. Latest reports suggest that the two sides are potentially moving closer to a deal for an early 2026 meetup. However, Teofimo, being Teofimo, believes he can top the cake with some icing.

After 32 long years, the Summer Olympics are finally set to return to U.S. soil. So hopes for a berth at the planet’s biggest sporting event have surged. And it appears Teofimo Lopez is no exception. But he can hardly be blamed if the Olympic bug has bitten him, especially considering that it will take place closer to home in Los Angeles. For now, he may have teased it as just an idea. But if he succeeds, he will not only turn back time on his record, when he fell short of an Olympic medal, but also succeed where a great like Manny Pacquiao, despite his best efforts, couldn’t.

Olympic fever hits Teofimo Lopez again

“I’m thinking of competing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics! 👀”  Teofimo Lopez wrote on X some time ago. Of course, it’s a no-brainer what kind of reactions would pour in. From jibes to jests, a few still felt that he had a real chance to accomplish the feat.

For the record, Lopez already has an Olympic participation to his credit. Back in 2016, he went to Rio de Janeiro, where Shakur Stevenson earned a silver medal. But unlike his archrival, Lopez fought under a different flag. Although he won the U.S. Olympic Trials, he could not compete for Team USA. Instead, Lopez represented Honduras, the country of his parents’ origin.

He suffered a loss to French fighter Sofiane Oumiha, who later clinched the lightweight silver. Given that he hopes for a momentous clash with Manny Pacquiao, probably Lopez felt that a five-ringed medal would add some weight to his goals?

The Filipino boxing legend, who stunned the world with an astounding comeback in July, is expected to return in late January next year.

When Manny Pacquiao’s Olympic dream fell short

However, well before his fruitful return, boxing’s lone eight-division champion surprised everyone when reports emerged that the Philippine Olympic Association had made a pitch for his Olympic participation.

Manny Pacquiao hoped to find a place at the Paris Olympics. However, his dreams eventually crumbled when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected the appeal to allow him to compete as a special consideration. The request for exemption was denied, as Pacquiao had crossed the age limit of 40 years.

“While I am very saddened and disappointed, I understand and accept the age-limit rules,” his subsequent statement read.

If Teofimo Lopez does make up his mind, he might have to contend with another rival – Jake Paul. The YouTuber-turned-boxer served as a special mentor to the 2024 U.S. Olympic boxing squad. Despite the hype and hope, however, the team managed to secure only one medal, a welterweight bronze for now-pro Omari Jones.

A month later, unhappy with the outcome, Jake Paul decided to do his bit for a country. The U.S. has yet to win an Olympic men’s boxing gold since Andre Ward’s triumph in Athens. “I’m going to enter the 2028 Olympics for boxing in Los Angeles. I’m sick and tired of waiting around, waiting for another gold for Team U.S.A. … I probably just added a couple more years onto my boxing career because of that, but Los Angeles, United States, sick as f*ck,” he said on his podcast, BS w/ Jake Paul.

So, fans will have to wait and see which of these cherished Olympic dreams eventually reaches the podium.

What are your thoughts? Does Teofimo Lopez stand a chance in the highly competitive world of Olympic boxing?