WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez will have a lot of eyes on him during Super Bowl week next month when he defends against Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) on Thursday, February 8th.
Capitalizing on the Spotlight
Teofimo’s promoters at Top Rank are putting him in a position to get the attention of non-boxing fans by placing his fight against Ortiz during Super Bowl week, as people who don’t follow the sport will accidentally stumble onto his fight while seeing info about football.
It’s important that the 26-year-old Teo not fumble this opportunity as he did in his performances against Sandor Martin, George Kambosos Jr., Pedro Campa, and Masayoshi Nakatani. Those were fights that Teofimo would probably wish to forget, notably the Kambosos Jr. match.
Teofimo vs. Ortiz will take place on February 8th on ESPN at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
Lightweight Keyshawn Davis fights veteran Jose Pedraza in the chief support bout on the Lopez-Ortiz card. This is a ten-rounder.
Lopez’s Philosophical Stance
“What is the definition of boxing? The best vs. the best. Regardless of the outcome, we need to see two pioneers face always, and that’s the only way we save our beloved sport,” said Teofimo Lopez to talkSPORT Boxing.
“They should clone me out there for the sport of boxing so we can keep this amped. I knew that went I turned pro, I’m finally home because the amateurs was very hard for me. My style is not amateur style like. It’s more pro-style-like.
“I think that was the only thing I could say that I was going to be okay and that now I’m finally home. I’m finally in a place that will fit my style, and I’m finally in a place that will fit my IQ.
“That is the most important thing in the sport of boxing, what’s your IQ. The challenges you take, the risks that you go after. That’s the most important part that I want to educate the next generation that follows,” said Teofimo.
Ortiz’s Psychological Barbs
“If he’s weak-minded, just take advantage of that, the opportunity, and see where his head’s at; how easily can he be brought down to a different fight?” said Jamaine Ortiz to Fighthype about his thoughts on whether he thinks Teofimo Lopez is weak-minded.
