Teofimo Lopez Jnr and George Kambosos Jnr trade social media barbs about rematch possibilities

Teofimo Lopez Jnr and George Kambosos Jnr continue to trade words on social media over who’s avoiding a possible rematch between the duo.

Lopez, 27, suffered his first and only career loss to Kambosos in November 2021 via a close split decision. Since surrendering two lightweight belts in the defeat, Lopez has continuously called out Kambosos – but the rematch has yet to happen.

Lopez, from Brooklyn, New York, has since acquired one of the 140lbs titles. He recently took to his X social media page to say that Kambosos and Devin Haney are avoiding fighting him.

“We sent reasonable offers to fight to both Team Haney and Team Kambosos. Both have declined! If you don’t believe it, ask @trboxing and @BruceTrampler,” said Lopez.

Kambosos, 21-1 (13 KOs) – who recently joined forces with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing – responded to Lopez, 21-3 (10 KOs) via X, posting that Lopez knows where to find him if he is indeed interested in a rematch.

“There’s your reasonable offer,” Kambosos posted. “You’re a Fugazi like I said in 2021 and like I say now in 2024. What reasonable offer? You know nothing about money, PPVs or selling tickets. Hahaha, you fight in wedding ballrooms these days. You don’t know if you’re coming or going.”

Lopez moved up in weight after losing his 135lbs unification titles to Kambosos and won the WBO junior welterweight belt three fights later, against Sandor Martin in a split decision win. He would go on to make three successful defenses, including a 12-round unanimous decision win over Steve Claggett in June.

Meanwhile, Kambosos dropped consecutive bouts to Haney after the Lopez triumph, losing his belts in the process. Since then, he managed a 12-round majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes in July 2023 before losing a challenge against Vasiliy Lomachenko for a 135lbs title in May.

Kambosos mocked Lopez, evidently referring to the pseudo-tussle between his father and Lopez’s father at a media workout before their fight.

“If you really want it, like I’ve always said you know where to find me. Bring your daddy too, we’re already 2-0 against you clowns. Your bosses don’t respect you anyway, just like I didn’t respect you and manhandled you.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].