By Chris Williams: Teofimo Lopez didn’t react well when told that Vasily Lomachenko said that he’d be in trouble if he mouthed off in his country of Ukraine. IBF lightweight champion Lopez (15-0, KOs) turned it around and said Lomachenko would have problems if he started talking in New York.
Teofimo says he’s going to put hands on WBA/WBC/WBO lightweight champion Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) when he faces him next month on October 17th at ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lopez is ready to hand Lomachenko another defeat and rip his belts away from him.
Lomachenko and Teofimo will be fighting for the undisputed 135-lb championship on ESPN and ESPN Deportes on October 17th. The winner will hold all four belts at lightweight and will be able to proclaim themselves as the best fighter in the division.
Lopez believes Lomachenko is looking to cash out at 135 before retiring. That’s why the two-time Olympic gold medalist moved up to lightweight, says Lopez. He’s trying to make money before getting out of the sport.
Teofimo says it’s pure BS that Lomachenko helped get him to sign for the fight by giving up a portion of his purse. There’s no truth in that, according to Teofimo, and he says it’s being repeated by people to help promote the fight. The truth is, ESPN put up the money to get the Lomachenko-Lopez battle made.
Lopez says he’s got more than size
“I believe many things are going to be a factor on October 17th, not just the size,” said Teofimo to IFL TV. “It’s all about the ring IQ, the footwork and all those things that have to play in this fight. It’s not just about you could be the bigger guy.
“Sometimes it’s more than that, and that’s what we come about, and we understand I’m a big lightweight, but I’m not just going to rely on that. He’s never faced a 135-pounder like me. Every fighter he’s faced, they’ve had great resumes, and they’ve been in the pro game for so long, and probably when they were in the pro game, I was in the amateurs.
“So things like that. I take my hat off to all those fighters that he’s faced, but I’m a different breed, man. I’m built differently, and I respect him. That’s just what it comes down to. I don’t believe in the hype, and I don’t believe in whatever they want to say about him because that’s just the opinions of others.
“To what he’s trying to do, I respect that. He’s trying to do bigger things, so I understand that. The same thing I’m trying to do. That’s why it’s going to be a tremendous fight that night. A lot of people are already calling it a ‘Fight of The Year’ candidate, and the reason why is because you’ve got two fighters where it’s winners to take all, and that’s what it comes to,” said Teofimo.
For the boxing fans that believe that the 23-year-old Teofimo only has size going for him, that shows their naivety. Lopez has got these things going for him against Lomachenko:
- Size
- Speed
- Power
- Youth
- Self-confidence
- Home country advantage
Teofimo: Lomachenko is on his way out
“We get all the marbles, and that’s what I’m looking forward to,” said Lopez on his battle against Lomachenko. “I know that. At this age too and with everything that’s going on in the world with COVID 19, and that’s why everything is free on TV, it’s not pay-per-view.
“It’s free for everyone to watch, and it’s going to be live here in the US on ESPN. I know in the UK, you have your own, and I look forward to so many of you guys watch. Not just myself. I hope Loma can feel the same way that I feel. We can’t be here without you guys.
“Absolutely,” Teofimo said when asked if he believes Lomachenko is on his way out. “He wouldn’t have gone to 135. I know, that’s why [Lomachenko is on his way out]. People may not like me, but it’s because they don’t understand me. That’s what it comes to. It’s not just what I say; it’s what I know.
“I get a lot of action behind the scenes that you don’t see. So trust me when I tell you that he’s on his way out. I had in my mind that I would be the undisputed champion. That was one of my primetime goals, and it’s right here in the grasp of my hands,” said Lopez.
Well, Lomachenko moved up to 135 for the bigger paydays because there weren’t any big names for him to fight at 130. Shakur Stevenson moved up to super featherweight this year, but he’s not a big name, and neither is Oscar Valdez and Miguel Berchelt.
If Lopez beats Lomachenko decisively on October 17th, there’s a good chance the Ukrainian fighter will hang up the gloves. Lomachenko is 3, but he’s not a young 32. He’s got a lot of miles on the odometer from his 400 amateur fights, and some of it just natural quick aging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpYarQT03vg
Some people age faster than others. By the time they’re 30, they look 45 and so on. Lomachenko looks like one of those guys that matured early and are starting to age.
Lopez says it’s BS that Loma sacrificed a portion of his purse
“At 23, maybe Mike Tyson has done it [about being in Boxing Hall of Fame],” continued Lopez. “I know just from winning this fight; I’ll be inducted for sure. I don’t know if I can curse, but it’s BS,” said Teofimo when asked if it’s true that Lomachenko donated a portion of his purse to help him sign for the fight.
“There’s a lot of BS going around with that. It’s crazy they could promote that, and I said no to the first offer that was thrown at me on the table, and not the fact that I accepted the fight. ESPN came in, and they offered me more. I got bashed that whole week, but it’s okay.
“As a businessman, I know what I’m worth at the moment. It’s not about the money. And it’s about the principle which I like to tell a lot of people. It’s the principle of everything. I’m telling you, man. On October 17th, there’s going to be some crazy stuff,” Teofimo said.
We know that Lomachenko didn’t give up a portion of his purse to get Lopez to sign for the fight. I wonder why people still believe that Loma helped out in making the fight? Does that version of non-reality make the contest bigger? I don’t think so. Only a hardcore boxing fan would care about that, but they probably already know that Lomachenko didn’t give up some of his purse to get Teofimo to sign.
Lomachenko is on his way out
“Try that s*** in New York, and you won’t even. In my country in New York, you say that that doesn’t slide. I mean, look. I’m going to talk the way I have to speak, and that’s just straight up how I am. I’m not sure if that’s from the New York stuff or anything.
“If we don’t like you, we don’t like you, and we’re outspoken about it, and I’m going to say it. The thing is that we don’t just talk the talk. I mean, if you got a problem and you’re going to press on me about it, then what’s up?
“I’m right there. I’m not just going to talk about it and think that, ‘Oh, I’m going to get away with it.’ No, that’s not how I was raised. So I don’t care about how your country is. I don’t care how you want to interpret it as.
“If I’m talking, the way I’m talking is because I’m putting hands on you on October 17th. That’s why I’m saying that I’m saying,” said Teofimo about Lomachenko.
“The only difference is the age. I was just working towards my goals. That’s all I do. Every fighter I face is an obstacle to get me to where I want to get to. To get me to point A to point B, and now we have the opportunity here. Richard Commey was a tremendous fighter.
‘He was very, very skilled and experienced fighter and a world champion. I had to go out there and face that world champion the right way. Just like it used to be in the old days. No vacant title or nothing like that. Fighting the champion.
“That’s the type of fighter I am. I guess I still have the old school in me. And I don’t care about who the guy I’m facing. I just care about what I’m going to achieve from beating that guy,” said Teofimo.
If Lomachenko wins this fight, I don’t see him retiring. He’ll likely try and set up battles against WBC champ Devin Haney, WBA champ Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, and contender Ryan Garcia. It’s doubtful that Lomachneko will move back down to super featherweight because there’s no money in that division for him.