Teofimo Lopez has the biggest fight of his career coming up next month. He will face Vasiliy Lomachenko in October. Consequently, Lopez is leaving no stone unturned to prepare for the fight.
Teofimo Lopez holds the IBF lightweight belt. On the other hand, Lomachenko has all the remaining silverware. The Ukrainian boasts of the WBC Franchise, WBA ‘Super’, and WBO belts. Therefore, the winner of the title fight will end up being the unified champ.
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The fight between Lopez and Lomachenko has also had his share of hiccups so far. This wasn’t expected initially as both are managed by Top Rank. However, Lopez’s camp felt that they were being asked to take too big of a cut for the fight. This was because the pandemic has forced the potential ‘Fight of the Year’ to happen behind closed doors.
However, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum later confirmed that the dispute is settled. Apparently, Lomachenko took a pay cut so that the fight can take place. It seems that the former two time Olympic gold medalist is itching to get back in the ring. Standing in front of him will be the undefeated Lopez.
Teofimo Lopez stuns netizens as he withstands incredibly hard body shots
The fight between Lopez and Lomachenko will be the quintessential youth vs experience bout. The 23-year old Lopez is one of the most polished youngsters who have landed on the big scene. He understands that Lomachenko is a different challenge altogether. Therefore, he is putting in as much work as possible before the fight.
.@TeofimoLopez is preparing for body shots from all angles 😬💥#TheTakeover pic.twitter.com/QIdqgkT2er
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 25, 2020
Lopez’s last fight came in December last year against Richard Commey. It was at this fight that the Rio 2016 Olympian won his first title. Lopez, along with his father, has been campaigning for a fight against Lomachenko for quite some time.
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As his son enters the squared circle against one of the best current pound-for-pound fighters, Lopez Sr. will hope that he backs up everything that his father has said. Lopez Sr. has even claimed that the fight wouldn’t even last three rounds.
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“It’s not going to even last three rounds,” the elder Lopez said while talking to ESPN. “When that monster hits him with the first punch, you’re going to see a hurt dog without no legs. He’s done. The first punch is going to change the whole fight. He’s going to wish he was never in that ring.”