Teofimo Lopez is ready for his fight with Arnold Barboza Jr.
Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO super lightweight title this Friday against top contender Arnold Barboza Jr, a fight that has had a lot of back-and-forth banter and heat going in.
Both were pretty low-key at the Grand Arrivals for the show in Times Square, with Lopez (21-1, 13 KO) saying he’s focused on this fight and not how much longer he’ll be staying at 140 lbs.
“We’re going to go out there and do what I have to do,” Lopez said. “I’m going to have fun and beat the brick out of this boy.”
Barboza (32-0, 11 KO) was a bit more diplomatic, but he’s also shown plenty of fire in the build to this fight.
“I’m very excited to share the ring with Teofimo,” he said. “He’s an awesome fighter, but I’m an awesome fighter, too. So it’s gonna have some fireworks.”
Barboza has scored two really strong wins back-to-back, beating Jose Ramirez last November in Riyadh, and then going to Manchester, England, to beat Jack Catterall in February.
Lopez has been less impressive recently, with dull but deserved wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett in his last two fights, and he’s once again looking to shake off the critics and show he’s the best in his division.
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