Tag: Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Weekend Review: George Kambosos Jr.’s limitations exposed again

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER George Kambosos Jr. Kambosos is a winner here because he was awarded a majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes on Saturday in Shawnee, Oklahoma, which guarantees the Aussie at least one …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
George Kambosos Jr.

Kambosos is a winner here because he was awarded a majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes on Saturday in Shawnee, Oklahoma, which guarantees the Aussie at least one more big fight. Many will say he didn’t earn it, however. Hughes, a relative unknown from England, befuddled the former 135-pound champion with his clever counterpunching and footwork for most of the fight, which evidently led many to believe he had done enough to score an upset. That’s why the announcement of the decision was greeted with boos by an incredulous crowd and derision around the world. Nevertheless, Kambosos, who was coming off back-to-back losses to undisputed champ Devin Haney, is in position to fight for a vacant title assuming Haney moves up to 140 pounds. He said he’d like to fight another former beltholder, Vasiliy Lomachenko. That would be his last hurrah. We must give Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) credit for his upset of Teofimo Lopez in 2021 even though Lopez fought with a dangerous health condition. However, in three fights after that, he has proved to be ordinary fighter. He can’t beat Lomachenko let alone the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. The disparity in skill would be too vast. The guess here is that Kambosos will be remembered as a one-hit wonder.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

You have to feel for Hughes (26-6-2, 5 KOs). The 33-year-old southpaw received the opportunity of lifetime when he was selected to fight Kambosos and then did enough in the ring to have his hand raised. Alas, the judges stole what would’ve been a life-changing victory. That’s why he was so crestfallen after the fact. He’s a good fighter. My hope is that he made a strong enough impression to get another, even more lucrative opportunity. He earned it. … I have no idea what Kambosos-Hughes judge Josef Mason was watching. He had Kambosos winning 117-111, nine rounds to three. That simply didn’t reflect what happened in the ring. I won’t call for his head but he needs to go back to judging school before he works another important fight. … Rising young fighters generally accomplish one of two things in their fights: They make a statement or they have a valuable learning experience. Keyshawn Davis had the latter in his near-shutout decision over Francesco Patera on the Kambosos-Hughes card. Davis wasn’t spectacular but he dominated a good, durable opponent and was never in any kind of trouble. In fact, Patera could barely touch him. In the end, the fight was forgettable but Davis will be a better boxer because of it. …

ESPN reported that Haney plans to give up his undisputed 135-pound championship and move up to 140, at which he would face WBC beltholder Regis Prograis. Then, if emerges victorious in that fight, he would target Lopez, the new WBO champ, in what could amount to a super fight. I have no idea whether Haney’s plan will come to fruition but it certainly sounds intriguing. I would rather he fight Stevenson and/or Davis before he moves up in weight but it’s not as if he would be pursuing pushover opponents. Plus, the scramble to fill four titles at 135 would be a lot of fun given the talent at the top of the division. … Junior lightweight Edy Valencia Mercado of Mexico reportedly is in critical condition after his loss to George Acosta on Friday in Ontario, California. Our thoughts are with Mercado and those close to him.

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Weekend Review: George Kambosos Jr.’s limitations exposed again

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER George Kambosos Jr. Kambosos is a winner here because he was awarded a majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes on Saturday in Shawnee, Oklahoma, which guarantees the Aussie at least one …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
George Kambosos Jr.

Kambosos is a winner here because he was awarded a majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes on Saturday in Shawnee, Oklahoma, which guarantees the Aussie at least one more big fight. Many will say he didn’t earn it, however. Hughes, a relative unknown from England, befuddled the former 135-pound champion with his clever counterpunching and footwork for most of the fight, which evidently led many to believe he had done enough to score an upset. That’s why the announcement of the decision was greeted with boos by an incredulous crowd and derision around the world. Nevertheless, Kambosos, who was coming off back-to-back losses to undisputed champ Devin Haney, is in position to fight for a vacant title assuming Haney moves up to 140 pounds. He said he’d like to fight another former beltholder, Vasiliy Lomachenko. That would be his last hurrah. We must give Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) credit for his upset of Teofimo Lopez in 2021 even though Lopez fought with a dangerous health condition. However, in three fights after that, he has proved to be ordinary fighter. He can’t beat Lomachenko let alone the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. The disparity in skill would be too vast. The guess here is that Kambosos will be remembered as a one-hit wonder.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

You have to feel for Hughes (26-6-2, 5 KOs). The 33-year-old southpaw received the opportunity of lifetime when he was selected to fight Kambosos and then did enough in the ring to have his hand raised. Alas, the judges stole what would’ve been a life-changing victory. That’s why he was so crestfallen after the fact. He’s a good fighter. My hope is that he made a strong enough impression to get another, even more lucrative opportunity. He earned it. … I have no idea what Kambosos-Hughes judge Josef Mason was watching. He had Kambosos winning 117-111, nine rounds to three. That simply didn’t reflect what happened in the ring. I won’t call for his head but he needs to go back to judging school before he works another important fight. … Rising young fighters generally accomplish one of two things in their fights: They make a statement or they have a valuable learning experience. Keyshawn Davis had the latter in his near-shutout decision over Francesco Patera on the Kambosos-Hughes card. Davis wasn’t spectacular but he dominated a good, durable opponent and was never in any kind of trouble. In fact, Patera could barely touch him. In the end, the fight was forgettable but Davis will be a better boxer because of it. …

ESPN reported that Haney plans to give up his undisputed 135-pound championship and move up to 140, at which he would face WBC beltholder Regis Prograis. Then, if emerges victorious in that fight, he would target Lopez, the new WBO champ, in what could amount to a super fight. I have no idea whether Haney’s plan will come to fruition but it certainly sounds intriguing. I would rather he fight Stevenson and/or Davis before he moves up in weight but it’s not as if he would be pursuing pushover opponents. Plus, the scramble to fill four titles at 135 would be a lot of fun given the talent at the top of the division. … Junior lightweight Edy Valencia Mercado of Mexico reportedly is in critical condition after his loss to George Acosta on Friday in Ontario, California. Our thoughts are with Mercado and those close to him.

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Teofimo Lopez Jr. still has big plans in next chapter of career

Teofimo Lopez Jr. still has big plans in the next chapter of his career.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. is an unfortunate example of how a boxer can plunge from high to low in an instant.

In October 2020, the Brooklyn fighter stunned the world by outpointing pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the undisputed 135-pound champion and take his place among the best in the business. He seemed to be destined for greatness.

Then, in his first defense last November, he ended up on the wrong end of an upset when heavy underdog George Kambosos Jr. defeated him by a split decision in New York to take his titles and obliterate his momentum.

Lopez was left to start anew, beginning with a fight against nondescript opponent Pedro Campa (34-1-1, 23 KOs) at his new weight of 140 on Saturday in Las Vegas (ESPN).

“I’m thankful to be back August 13,” Lopez told BoxingScene.com. “I’ve been looking forward to this since my last fight. I’ve had a lot of complications, but we’re looking towards the future and are on to bigger and better things.

“I’m here to take over the 140-pound division just like I did at 135. Like always, I’m going to bring excitement to the sport of boxing.”

Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs) seemed to be a can’t-miss star after the Lomachenko victory, a talented, hard-punching young fighter with a fiery temperament. Fans loved what they saw.

Then came the Kambosos fight.

Things weren’t good for Lopez beforehand, he made clear afterward. He said he had trouble making 135, which is why he moved up to 140. And we learned afterward that he fought with air in his chest cavity, which could’ve caused a tragedy.

Also, the fight was postponed multiple times, which made training complicated for both fighters.

Thus, Lopez didn’t appear to be the fighter who took down Lomachenko. Kambosos put him down in the first round and he could never make up for lost ground, although he did make it close. The official scores were 115-111, 115-112 and 114-113.

Afterward, he said he thought he did enough to win but those who watched the fight knew better.

And Lopez, 25, appears to have accepted the setback. His focus now is be the dominated fighter many fans expected him to become after his break-through victory over Lomachenko. All fighters lose, right?

“I am calling this fight the ‘Take Back’ because I am coming to regain what I’ve lost,” he said. “One defeat does not define a fighter, and it won’t define me.”

“My best years are in front of me,” he went on. “Pedro Campa is the start of a new chapter in my career. I will be a two-weight world champion very soon. Every contender and champion at junior welterweight better watch out because I am coming to clean out the division.”

That sounds like the old Lopez. We’ll see whether he can fight like he did when he was at his best.

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Teofimo Lopez Jr. still has big plans in next chapter of career

Teofimo Lopez Jr. still has big plans in the next chapter of his career.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. is an unfortunate example of how a boxer can plunge from high to low in an instant.

In October 2020, the Brooklyn fighter stunned the world by outpointing pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the undisputed 135-pound champion and take his place among the best in the business. He seemed to be destined for greatness.

Then, in his first defense last November, he ended up on the wrong end of an upset when heavy underdog George Kambosos Jr. defeated him by a split decision in New York to take his titles and obliterate his momentum.

Lopez was left to start anew, beginning with a fight against nondescript opponent Pedro Campa (34-1-1, 23 KOs) at his new weight of 140 on Saturday in Las Vegas (ESPN).

“I’m thankful to be back August 13,” Lopez told BoxingScene.com. “I’ve been looking forward to this since my last fight. I’ve had a lot of complications, but we’re looking towards the future and are on to bigger and better things.

“I’m here to take over the 140-pound division just like I did at 135. Like always, I’m going to bring excitement to the sport of boxing.”

Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs) seemed to be a can’t-miss star after the Lomachenko victory, a talented, hard-punching young fighter with a fiery temperament. Fans loved what they saw.

Then came the Kambosos fight.

Things weren’t good for Lopez beforehand, he made clear afterward. He said he had trouble making 135, which is why he moved up to 140. And we learned afterward that he fought with air in his chest cavity, which could’ve caused a tragedy.

Also, the fight was postponed multiple times, which made training complicated for both fighters.

Thus, Lopez didn’t appear to be the fighter who took down Lomachenko. Kambosos put him down in the first round and he could never make up for lost ground, although he did make it close. The official scores were 115-111, 115-112 and 114-113.

Afterward, he said he thought he did enough to win but those who watched the fight knew better.

And Lopez, 25, appears to have accepted the setback. His focus now is be the dominated fighter many fans expected him to become after his break-through victory over Lomachenko. All fighters lose, right?

“I am calling this fight the ‘Take Back’ because I am coming to regain what I’ve lost,” he said. “One defeat does not define a fighter, and it won’t define me.”

“My best years are in front of me,” he went on. “Pedro Campa is the start of a new chapter in my career. I will be a two-weight world champion very soon. Every contender and champion at junior welterweight better watch out because I am coming to clean out the division.”

That sounds like the old Lopez. We’ll see whether he can fight like he did when he was at his best.

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George Kambosos Jr. on Teofimo Lopez Jr.: ‘He’s in big, big trouble’

George Kambosos on opponent Teofimo Lopez: “He’s in big, big trouble.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

George Kambosos Jr. is confident ahead of his fight with undisputed and unbeaten lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. on Saturday in New York City.

The Australian, ranked No. 1 by the IBF, believes he has better tools than his American counterpart.

“My speed and the way I move and explosive power and shots that I land and throw and the punches in bunches and the combination punches that I have in my artillery, and my stamina and my fitness is just too much for this kid,” Kambosos told AAP .

“He’s been saying he’ll knock me out first round. Before he got COVID on June 19, he said he was going to knock me out within three, so what’s changed?”

George Kambosos Jr. (right) is confident going into his fight with lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez on Saturday. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

The long delay will help him spring a surprise, he believes.

“His fitness and his stamina is nowhere near what it has to be so he’s hoping and he’s praying that it’s one round because it has to be,” Kambosos said. “What’s he going to do for the next 11 when he doesn’t get that first-round knockout?

“If that’s his only game plan, then he’s in big, big trouble. I’m fully prepared. I’m ready for 12 rounds. I’m old school so, if they want, we can do 15 rounds like the greats of our sport.”

The 28-year-old from Sydney also defended himself against critics of his style, which some say lacks decisive power.

“Look, volume punching in boxing is if you throw a lot of punches and I do that,” Kambosos said. “I’ve got a big motor. Throughout the 12 rounds, I keep going. Every round I keep getting better and better and keep throwing more punches.

“But my defense is so underrated in the boxing world. I’m super sharp and my reflexes, my head movement, my footwork in and out, they’re going to find out the hard way, Lopez is.

“They don’t believe in my defense and think this is going to be an easy fight for him, but they’re going to find out the hard way. … He relies on his power but when you’ve got a guy like myself who can bang as well but has super fast hands and ring IQ, I just know I’m going to beat him.

“Everything that he brings to the table, I do better.”

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George Kambosos Jr. on Teofimo Lopez Jr.: ‘He’s in big, big trouble’

George Kambosos on opponent Teofimo Lopez: “He’s in big, big trouble.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

George Kambosos Jr. is confident ahead of his fight with undisputed and unbeaten lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. on Saturday in New York City.

The Australian, ranked No. 1 by the IBF, believes he has better tools than his American counterpart.

“My speed and the way I move and explosive power and shots that I land and throw and the punches in bunches and the combination punches that I have in my artillery, and my stamina and my fitness is just too much for this kid,” Kambosos told AAP .

“He’s been saying he’ll knock me out first round. Before he got COVID on June 19, he said he was going to knock me out within three, so what’s changed?”

George Kambosos Jr. (right) is confident going into his fight with lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez on Saturday. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

The long delay will help him spring a surprise, he believes.

“His fitness and his stamina is nowhere near what it has to be so he’s hoping and he’s praying that it’s one round because it has to be,” Kambosos said. “What’s he going to do for the next 11 when he doesn’t get that first-round knockout?

“If that’s his only game plan, then he’s in big, big trouble. I’m fully prepared. I’m ready for 12 rounds. I’m old school so, if they want, we can do 15 rounds like the greats of our sport.”

The 28-year-old from Sydney also defended himself against critics of his style, which some say lacks decisive power.

“Look, volume punching in boxing is if you throw a lot of punches and I do that,” Kambosos said. “I’ve got a big motor. Throughout the 12 rounds, I keep going. Every round I keep getting better and better and keep throwing more punches.

“But my defense is so underrated in the boxing world. I’m super sharp and my reflexes, my head movement, my footwork in and out, they’re going to find out the hard way, Lopez is.

“They don’t believe in my defense and think this is going to be an easy fight for him, but they’re going to find out the hard way. … He relies on his power but when you’ve got a guy like myself who can bang as well but has super fast hands and ring IQ, I just know I’m going to beat him.

“Everything that he brings to the table, I do better.”

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Video: Ak, Barak: What lies ahead for Devin Haney?

Lightweight contender Devin Haney apparently won’t get the fight he wants, at least not soon. Haney, a secondary 135-pound titleholder, has repeatedly stated his desire to fight undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in his next fight. …

Lightweight contender Devin Haney apparently won’t get the fight he wants, at least not soon.

Haney, a secondary 135-pound titleholder, has repeatedly stated his desire to fight undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in his next fight. However, it appears Lopez is moving in the direction of a title defense against mandatory challenger George Kambosos.

Where does that leave Haney?

In this episode of The Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess interview the unbeaten 22-year-old about his immediate plans and more.

Here’s what Haney had to say.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer RuCZihk5]

Video: Ak, Barak: What lies ahead for Devin Haney?

Lightweight contender Devin Haney apparently won’t get the fight he wants, at least not soon. Haney, a secondary 135-pound titleholder, has repeatedly stated his desire to fight undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in his next fight. …

Lightweight contender Devin Haney apparently won’t get the fight he wants, at least not soon.

Haney, a secondary 135-pound titleholder, has repeatedly stated his desire to fight undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in his next fight. However, it appears Lopez is moving in the direction of a title defense against mandatory challenger George Kambosos.

Where does that leave Haney?

In this episode of The Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess interview the unbeaten 22-year-old about his immediate plans and more.

Here’s what Haney had to say.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer RuCZihk5]

Teofimo Lopez Jr. calls news of Lomachenko’s shoulder injury ‘excuse’

Teofimo Lopez Jr. called word out of Vasiliy Lomachenko’s camp that he fought with a shoulder injury an “excuse.”

Teofimo Lopez Jr. said word out of Vasiliy Lomachenko’s camp that the Ukrainian star fought with an injured shoulder on Oct. 17 is merely an “excuse.”

Lopez defeated Lomachenko by a clear unanimous decision to become undisputed lightweight champion inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

“The thing … that people need to understand … I was coming into this fight injured as well, if we want to talk about injuries, but I didn’t make any excuses about it,” he told TMZ. “This is just part of the sport. You are never going to come in at 100 percent in boxing or any type of combat sport. …

“I think by him doing that (revealing the shoulder injury), as someone who was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the whole world, and to use that excuse, I think it just looks more bad on him than anything else.”

Lopez didn’t stop there. He went on to discuss the chances of a rematch and Lomachenko’s behavior during and after the fight.

A rematch seems unlikely: “F— him. I won fair and square. I not only beat him at his own game, but being off for 10 months and fighting the guy people said was the best pound-for-pound. … I’m the king now. I’ve always been the king. I was just the underground king. Now, I’ve been crowned.”

Lomachenko’s dirty tactics: “I saw that he wanted to throw with me, so I said, ‘OK, we’re gonna throw together then.’ But that’s when the head butt came in. I got cut. He did some of his dirty tactics, but we still got the job done. I think we did it the best way that people didn’t expect us to do.”

Lomachenko’s poor sportsmanship: “I went up to him [after the fight] and I said good fight. I grabbed his father. I said, ‘Safe travels,’ pretty much saying goodbye to them because I knew I won. But he didn’t want to give me back that same gesture. Instead, he just started laughing like … [he’s thinking] what am I doing here [in their corner].

“So, I was like whatever, I did my part. The fighting’s done. I whooped your ass … you cut me, head-butted me and s—, but it’s fine.”

Lomachenko skipped the post-fight news conference: “That just shows what kind of champion he really is.”

Tell us what you really think, Teofimo.

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Teofimo Lopez Jr. calls news of Lomachenko’s shoulder injury ‘excuse’

Teofimo Lopez Jr. called word out of Vasiliy Lomachenko’s camp that he fought with a shoulder injury an “excuse.”

Teofimo Lopez Jr. said word out of Vasiliy Lomachenko’s camp that the Ukrainian star fought with an injured shoulder on Oct. 17 is merely an “excuse.”

Lopez defeated Lomachenko by a clear unanimous decision to become undisputed lightweight champion inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

“The thing … that people need to understand … I was coming into this fight injured as well, if we want to talk about injuries, but I didn’t make any excuses about it,” he told TMZ. “This is just part of the sport. You are never going to come in at 100 percent in boxing or any type of combat sport. …

“I think by him doing that (revealing the shoulder injury), as someone who was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the whole world, and to use that excuse, I think it just looks more bad on him than anything else.”

Lopez didn’t stop there. He went on to discuss the chances of a rematch and Lomachenko’s behavior during and after the fight.

A rematch seems unlikely: “F— him. I won fair and square. I not only beat him at his own game, but being off for 10 months and fighting the guy people said was the best pound-for-pound. … I’m the king now. I’ve always been the king. I was just the underground king. Now, I’ve been crowned.”

Lomachenko’s dirty tactics: “I saw that he wanted to throw with me, so I said, ‘OK, we’re gonna throw together then.’ But that’s when the head butt came in. I got cut. He did some of his dirty tactics, but we still got the job done. I think we did it the best way that people didn’t expect us to do.”

Lomachenko’s poor sportsmanship: “I went up to him [after the fight] and I said good fight. I grabbed his father. I said, ‘Safe travels,’ pretty much saying goodbye to them because I knew I won. But he didn’t want to give me back that same gesture. Instead, he just started laughing like … [he’s thinking] what am I doing here [in their corner].

“So, I was like whatever, I did my part. The fighting’s done. I whooped your ass … you cut me, head-butted me and s—, but it’s fine.”

Lomachenko skipped the post-fight news conference: “That just shows what kind of champion he really is.”

Tell us what you really think, Teofimo.

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