By Dan Ambrose: George Kambosos Jr says former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez’s confidence is gone, and he’s not the same fighter since his loss to him.
Kambosos gives Josh Taylor the edge over Teofimo in their fight next month on June 10th, but he’s not ruling Teo out. It will be difficult for him to get the victory due to the damage he took in his loss to Kambosos.
Teofimo looks mentally not there anymore, and his interviews are strange, with him saying things that he can’t possibly believe. Unless the 25-year-old Teo is able to snap out of it, you have to view him as just another example of a one-hit-wonder.
A guy that took advantage of a smaller, older, injured Vasyl Lomachenko to win a belt that he would never have won had he been healthy or if Teo were facing Shakur Stevenson.
If Teofimo loses to Josh Taylor next month, Top Rank will need to make a difficult decision what to do with him.
Do they keep Teo around and match him against mediocre opposition to take advantage of his popularity in New York, or do they jettison him?
Even if Teofimo is matched against weak opposition, he can still be useful for Top Rank like Edgar Berlanga was when he was with the company fighting lesser opposition. Teofimo’s ability to trash talk makes him valuable to Top Rank in an Adrien Broner-type way.
Question: What do you think about Ryan Garcia training with Derrick James after his loss to Tank Davis?
George Kambosos Jr: I think it’s a good move. Derek James is a very competent trainer. However, I feel Ryan Garcia is often distracted and lacks focus. But, with a guy like Derek James and the others in that gym, he can likely bring out the best in him, Kambosos said to Fight Hub TV.
Question: What are your thoughts on Ryan Garcia’s loss to Tank Davis?
Kambosos: I think Ryan took a good body shot. The question is, could he have got up after that? He needs to prove to himself and to everyone that he can recover from a loss like that.
Question: What did you think about Rolly Romero’s recent fight?
Kambosos: I think the fight was stopped prematurely. Both fighters could have had their moments if the fight was allowed to continue. It would be fair if they got another chance to fight.
Question: What are your thoughts on Teofimo Lopez fighting against Josh Taylor?
Kambosos: It’s an interesting fight. Josh Taylor is a naturally good 140-pounder, and he is very good to the body. I would give Josh Taylor the edge, but you can’t rule out Lopez.
Question: What changes have you noticed in Teofimo Lopez after your fight with him?
Kambosos: His confidence is not the same anymore. He got damaged in our fight, and since then, he has not looked well.
Question: Would you like to see the winner of Taylor-Lopez fight Regis Prograis, the WBC 140-pound champion?
Kambosos: Regis Prograis is a very good and dangerous fighter. It would be interesting to see him fight the winner of Taylor-Lopez.
Question: What advice would you give Ryan Garcia about recovering from a loss?
Kambosos: I would tell him not to worry about the loss. He needs to focus on moving on and improving his game. It’s all about staying disciplined and being true to the game.
Question: What are your plans for the future?
Kambosos: I plan to continue fighting. I am disciplined and committed to the sport, and I am looking forward to making a comeback. I have a fight coming up in about ten weeks which will be a great opportunity for me to bounce back.
