Fighting is 'better than intercourse,' 25-year-old boxer Teofimo Lopez says

• Teofimo Lopez is fighting twice this year for the first time since 2019.
• The super lightweight boxer compared fighting to intercourse, and even said boxing was better.
• Lopez intends to seek out the sport's biggest challenges in 2023.

Teofimo Lopez is back in business, judging by the way he's been talking.

The 25-year-old, one of boxing's brightest stars, returns to the ring Saturday to headline a Top Rank event inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.

"I'm excited," Lopez told Insider ahead of his super lightweight bout against Sandor Martin. "Like the great Frank Sinatra says, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.

"And this is 'The Takeover' — a new version of everything we're trying to push and promote, and I can't wait to put on a show for everybody."

Lopez scored the biggest win of his career in 2020 when he defeated two-time Olympic champion boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko to claim most of the world titles at lightweight, and gatecrash the pound-for-pound rankings.

Since then, though, he suffered a shock defeat to George Kambosos, rebounded with a win earlier this year, and is now looking to build some momentum so that he can repeat his championship-winning exploits in his new weight class.

"Everything has some sort of teaching," Lopez told Insider. "And I love it. I've always been a passionate kid, I've always loved boxing.

"So, what have I learned from it? I've learned that, yes, my failures are going to be [amplified] more than my successes. I embrace my failures. And my biggest failure is not loving myself enough. I've got to love me more."

One thing Lopez is loving right now is his activity. For the first time since 2019 he'll be fighting more than once per year, and he hopes to fight even more frequently next year.

"Fighting twice a year is better than intercourse," Lopez said. "And I haven't had that feeling since 2019 at Madison Square Garden when I won my first world title," with a knockout over Richard Commey.

"It feels amazing to fight twice this year. And we're looking to do even more next year — three times in 2023. I need to have purpose," Lopez said.

Lopez wants all the smoke at super lightweight

Lopez's stated purpose involves seeking out some of the biggest challenges the weight class can offer, like a fight against Josh Taylor in the UK.

Lopez also wants a bout against superstar boxers Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, or even undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney should the American invade the super lightweight division.

"I can't wait for Tank and Ryan to move to 140 so we can make those fights happen," Lopez told us. "We're going to go mop Josh Taylor up in 2023, too.

"Eventually, Haney and me will fight and I want to be the one who gives him the first loss," Lopez added. "And Regis Prograis against me would be an all-action war."

First, though, Lopez has to fight — and beat — Sandor Martin in an event ESPN+ broadcasts Saturday from 4 p.m. PT.