Home/Boxing

IBF World lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez is ready to go to war with WBA super and WBO lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko next weekend. Both the boxers have gone through an intense training camp and have been groomed by their fathers.

Loma and Lopez are blessed to have their trainers in their fathers. If not for the super dads, we could have possibly missed out on two world champions of the modern-day lightweight unit. However, Lopez does not bill it to be a straightforward path. He claims that being trained under his father is not as easy as it seems.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Teofimo Lopez believes that it is important to get rid of emotions when you have shifted roles. While his father trains him at the gym, Lopez claims to view him solely as his coach and not a family member.

Teofimo Lopez has come up a long way in boxing

Prior to his title fight against Lomachenko, Lopez Jr. connected with Al Bernstein to discuss several things about his career. One of them being his training under his father, Lopez Sr.

Speaking about it, he said, “At times it could definitely be difficult, It’s never an easy road when it’s the father-son duos and they are the coach and boxer at the same time.”

Lopez further added, “It could be difficult, but I think it was…. I had a lot of thinking to do and I realized that ‘hey, listen, that’s right now he is just being my coach. He is proud. I am always gonna think about that, he is always proud of me and he is always gonna push me to my limbs as much as I can, you know until I can’t.”

As per Teofimo, communication is the most important part of the relationship. Although the journey has been hectic, the IBF champions also call it “great.”

“I think the understanding part. He knows me now where I am very much more outspoken on a lot of things.

“It has been great, but definitely not an easy task.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

No wonder he is ready for the upcoming thriller against Loma. If he wins, Lopez will continue his undefeated pro-run by becoming the new undisputed unified lightweight champion.

Read: Errol Spence Jr. Gets a New Date For His Title Fight Against Danny Garcia

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Challenge Your Sports Knowledge!

Solve the puzzle and prove your knowledge of iconic players, terms, and moments.

Play Now!