By Huck Allan: Former undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez could be facing second-tier 140-lb fighter Pedro Campa in August in the first fight since being dethroned last November by George Kambosos Jr.
Teofimo will need to be medically cleared to take the fight with the veteran Campa, as he’s coming off of hand surgery & elbow surgery.
Lance Pugmire reports that Mexican native Pedro Campa is the potential opponent that Teofimo could be fighting next in his first fight at 140.
The 24-year-old Teofimo (16-1, 12 KOs) has been healing up since that defeat to Kambosos, and he’s had more than enough time to make his debut at 140.
Initially, there had been a discussion of Teofimo taking on the highly ranked #8 WBC Arnold Barboza, but that fight is not happening.
Top Rank might have felt that Barboza was too risky of an opponent for Teofimo to face in his first contest at light-welterweight, especially given his poor performance against Kambosos.
Throwing Teofimo in with Barboza would be a terrible idea, as this guy would likely take advantage of the same flaws that Kambosos did.
For Top Rank to consider the 30-year-old Campa (33-1-1, 22 KOs) as Teofimo’s next opponent in August, it suggests that they’re not comfortable putting him in with a top-tier opponent, even a bottom feeder.
Forget about 11-year professional Campa’s 33-1 record. It’s filled exclusively with fluff opposition from top to bottom with basically no quality names among the 35 opponents he’s fought during his career.
“Told by Bob Arum that following expected medical clearance, former lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez is being targeted for an August 140-pound bout in Fort Lauderdale. An official tells me the “most promising” foe is Mexico’s Pedro Campa (33-1-1, 22 KOs),” said Lance Pugmire on Twitter about Teofimo Lopez’s next potential opponent.
If Teofimo moves quickly to 140, he’s got a chance to swoop in and grab one of the four light-welterweight titles once undisputed champion Josh Taylor fragments them.
It wouldn’t be a good idea for Teofimo to wait too long, though, because if he moves too slowly, he’ll have to fight Regis Prograis, Jose Ramirez, or Gary Antuanne Russell for one of the straps.
The mental weakness that Teofimo showed against Kambosos would be taken advantage of by Prograis, Ramirez, or Russell. Those guys are too solid for a fighter that crumbles when met with adversity like Teofimo.
Campa’s best wins:
- Ivan Alvarez
- Juan Antonio Rodriguez
- Marvin Quintero
- Jose Alfaro
- Jorge Pimentel
It’s questionable whether Teofimo will pan out at 140, as he looked like a wreck against Kambosos. Whether it’s the money that Teofimo has made in a short period or him never being as good as some felt, he’s destined to be a one-hit-wonder.
Teofimo’s upset win over Vasyl Lomachenko in October 2020 came against a fighter with an injured shoulder, fighting with just one arm.
Even with a one-armed fighter and a big-size advantage, Teofimo barely won the fight.
