Should their paths back to a world title shot lead to each other, Norman would be more than willing to face the Brooklyn, New York, native if it gets him back into the title picture. Lopez told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger that he’s moving up to welterweight after going 6-1 at 140 pounds and winning The Ring and WBO titles.

“The pinnacle of boxing is becoming the champion,” Norman told The Ring. If I gotta fight Teofimo just to get that championship fight again, best believe I'll take that.”

Norman (28-1, 22 KOs), previously held the WBO welterweight title before losing a unanimous decision to The Ring’s No. 1-ranked welterweight and No. 9-ranked fighter pound-for-pound, Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), on November 22. The 25-year-old Decatur, Georgia, native defended the title twice, including The Ring’s 2025 Knockout of the Year with his devastating fifth-round knockout of Jin Sasaki ،on June 19 in Japan.

Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson, who is The Ring’s No. 3-ranked fighter pound-for-pound.

“I was fighting more, so emotional instead of being myself,” Norman said of the loss to Haney. “It's a lesson learned. I got to give hats out to Devin Haney for doing that. He won the mental warfare battle. He got me out of my body [and] got me out of my character. So I'll just salute to him. You live, and you learn. “

When Norman does return to the ring, he’ll be doing it without his father in his corner, as he’s appointed Ronnie Shields as his new trainer. Shields has long been one of boxing’s top trainers over the last three decades and has trained the likes of Pernell Whitaker, Vernon Forrest, Evander Holyfield, Jermall Charlo, Erislandy Lara and David Morrell Jr., among others.

Norman hopes to return to the ring this summer before landing a significant bout later this year.

“This is Ronnie Shields we’re talking about,” Norman said of hiring Shields as his new trainer. “This is the legend. This is the guy who helped Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield [and] my hometown guy Vernon Forrest. The mentality that we both have and the way that we both operate, the chemistry and even boxing-wise, style-wise, everything matches up.”