By Chris Williams: Teofimo Lopez feels that Vasiliy Lomachenko is just looking to cash out at this point in his career at 135. It’s not his natural weight class, and he’s only fighting in the division for the paychecks, says Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs).
WBA/WBC/WBO lightweight champion Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) isn’t fighting at 135 for the glory of being the undisputed champion. That’s all, hogwash.
Lomachenko wants the money, and that’s it. And if doesn’t work out for him, Loma will move back down to 130, which is his plan-B safety valve.
IBF lightweight champion Lopez and Lomachenko will be fighting next month on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand Conference Room in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The winner of the fight will hold the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO lightweight titles and will have the title of being the undisputed champion at 135. Although Lomachenko makes a big production about wanting to be the undisputed champion, Teofimo seems more excited about the prospect of achieving that status.
That could reinforce his belief that Lomachenko is just out for the money, looking to cash out at age 32.
Lomachenko is cashing out
“If that comes about, then I’ve got another plan,” said Tefimo to Fighthype when asked what happens if Lomachenko can handle his power. “He’s desperate, he had to make a statement,” said Teofimo about Lomachenko in his fight against Luke Campbell.
“Lomachenko knows he’s on his way out. Nobody knows that, but I do. Why would he come to 135? He’s here to cash out. Come on; you get fooled by what you see.
“Of course, because if it doesn’t work, he still has a plan-B,” said Teofimo on why Lomachenko talks about possibly moving back down to 130. “He made between $4 to 6 million against Luke Campbell out there in the UK, and that’s because he went to the UK.
Champ camps are underway … and so, 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 ⏳#LomaLopez | OCT 17 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/viMBDAHJYl
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 9, 2020
“You guys all believe it, and it’s like an illusion to you guys. You’ve got to look at why is this guy going to 135. This is not his weight class. I’m going to do my thing on October 17th, clean my hands and keep rolling.
“And I’m not looking at Lomachenko. I’m looking through him. What happens if Teofimo takes him to deep waters. My main priority is the person I’m facing on October 17th, and that’s Vasily Lomachenko,” said Teofimo.
If Lomachenko is cashing out, then he needs to stay at 135, and forget about moving back down to 130. There aren’t any stars in the super featherweight division. Shakur Stevenson is a future star, but he’s only 23 now, and not well known enough for Lomachenko to make big money fighting him.
Lomachenko will need to beat Lopez, and then look to take on WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney for him to maximize his retirement funds.
Teo won’t force the knockout
“I’m not expecting to knock this guy out in the 5th round, so I’m not going to force it,” said Teofimo. “When I dissect him and do those things, we’ll see from there. I’m looking to be the first Latino to do it in this era.
The top four guys that have done it to become undisputed, I’ll be one of those guys to be #5. At 23 years of age, the sky’s the limit. I’m thankful for this opportunity.
“His whole intentions, my father, really gets under his skin,” said Teofimo when told that Lomachenko wants to force his father/trainer Teofimo Sr to be forced to throw in the towel.
“I’m very happy that he is kind of frustrated. I don’t think any fighter has ever given loma this much disrespect. I don’t give a s*** about him. Who cares? I can say I’m going to knock you out, and you can say you’re going to make me quit.
We’re going to find out on October 17th. It doesn’t matter. May the best man win. It’s going to be bad intentions. I don’t like you. That’s just what it comes to, and that’s why everybody is so intrigued to watch this fight,” said Lopez.
The best way for Teo to knockout Lomachenko would be to time him and nail him with a big shot as he did against Richard Commey. Lomachenko is going to be there to be hit all night because he likes to throw his crowd-pleasing combinations.
The Ukrainian fighter has a bad habit of being a showboater type of fighter who likes to throw a lot of weak shots to impress the boxing fans. That style of fighting works when you’re facing opposition that lacks colossal punching power. But against a knockout artist, it’s laying with fire.
Teofimo doesn’t respect Loma
“We don’t respect him,” Lopez continued about Lomachenko. “The main guy, which was Anthony Crolla, that man was in fear before the fight.
“Everybody he’s faced, everybody believes the hype-train. Everybody believes that, and it gets them shook. I’m the type of fighter that doesn’t give a s***. You can say that this guy is ‘the man of steel,’ and I don’t care.
“I’m the type of fighter where I don’t respect no man when I’m in the ring. I’m a dog, and I’m going to fight for my life. There are many things that we can cap off.
“I’m not a stupid fighter where I go in there and throws punches and expect to get lucky. No, everything I do is accurate, and it’s all pinpointed. I’m not the type of fighter that throws shots. I place my punches.
“Absolutely not,” said Teofimo when asked if he thinks Lomachenko knows how to fight going backward. “He doesn’t know how to fight going backward. Everybody is saying he’s the greatest fighter of all time, but you’ve got to learn how to fight with all attributes, bro.
“Nobody even knows that I know how to fight going backward. In the amateurs, I was just a straight boxer. Everyone sees me now, coming forward, looking like a brawler or whatever you want to say, thinking I throw lucky punches,” said Teofimo.
Lopez has the right idea about not showing respect to Lomachenko, as to why should he lower himself by doing that. When fighters start being subservient to their opponents, that’s a sign that they’re already giving up.
Most of Lomachenko’s 15 opponents as a pro have shown him respect, and look what it’s gotten them.
Lopez wants to show what he’s about
“If you can’t take my shot, then I’m going to take advantage of that, and I’m going to press on you with it,” Lopez said. “I can’t wait.. On October 17th, I’m going to be able to show everybody what I’m all about. I’m very smart.
“People have only noticed Teofimo through a few fights of mine. The ones that have followed me have seen me for three years. People have seen Lomachenko for seven or eight years already.
“Everyone has seen this man at his peak. I’m not even at my peak yet, and that’s the thing I’m very happy about. And I’m doing all these things, and the way I’m doing them, what’s going to happen when I am in my prime?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPzE1rbScnM&t=26s
“I’m not going to sleep on this guy. Everybody has got the hunger to win. So I’m not going to underestimate him. I’m going to trust myself, and slow starter or not, we’re going to have a fight.