Teofimo Lopez opens up on his troubles outside the boxing ring

Teofimo Lopez thinks his problems are far worse outside the ropes than they are inside.

In a recent interview, the current junior welterweight contender and former unified lightweight champion admitted that he has struggled with some personal issues as he prepares to face Josh Taylor, the current WBO 140-pound champion, on June 10 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In particular, Lopez revealed that he and his wife, Cynthia, are currently going through a divorce. Yes, Lopez has already spoken in front of the public about his divorce from his wife, with whom he had a child. However, they were spotted together at Lopez's December Madison Square Garden fight.

“There have been a lot of personal issues,” Lopez told Punsh Drunk Boxing. “That plays a big role as you come up in the ranks and you’re a top fighter. A lot of things that people don’t really know, like right now, just a little insight: my ex-wife, she filed for divorce. She’s gonna take half of my money and everything else with it. Though, you know, it’s a part of it. It is what it is. It comes with the territory. You live and you learn. As long as I’m livin’, I’m learnin'."

Lopez said that after defeating Martin in a contentious split decision in December, he took offence at his wife's unwillingness to give him their infant son. ESPN, who covered the Lopez-Martin fight, recorded the exchange. Lopez bemoaned the fact that he hadn't seen his son in a while.

“You know, I haven’t seen my son,” Lopez said. “It’s tough sometimes. For her to kind of diss me in front of the whole world by not passing my kid, or our kid, I should say, it’s stuff like that really [takes a] toll [on me]. I’m doing everything for my son. I’m doing this for the new generation of boxing. So when those things that come into play at that time, of course I’m gonna be very disappointed. But I’m learning throughout the works of everything. Such is life. it comes with the territory.”

“This is my third fight at 140, I’m facing the kingpin of the division, Josh Taylor,” Lopez continued. “That’s the thing. We aim for the impossible. Once we start doing it, everybody is just gonna just jump right into it again.”

When asked if his out-of-the-ring troubles were more problematic than the challenges inside the ring, Lopez did not hesitate to answer, “Absolutely.”

“I’m 25,” Lopez said. “I’m still young, in that part of experiencing certain hardships in life that come with everything. …I take a lot of classes with mentors who can actually speak upon things, to actually grow your education.”