By: Sean Crose
He stunned lots of people when he bested Vasyl Lomachenko some years again. Now, after a shock lack of his personal at brief time later, Teofimo Lopez is working to determine himself at junior welterweight. A colourful, energy punching New Yorker, Lopez is little doubt should see tv, which is why followers shall be tuning in to ESPN Saturday evening when the 17-1 fighter battles the 40-2 Sandor Martin in the principle occasion of a Madison Square Garden card. Martin is greatest identified for upsetting the favored Mikey Garcia in 2021, a victory which subsequently led to Garcia retiring from the ring together with his well being and wealth in tact.
In fact, this isn’t a straightforward win for Lopez, if it finally ends up being a win in any respect. Martin is a puzzle within the ring. Garcia was maybe one in all most deliberate fighter of his period and he couldn’t determine Martin out. Will Lopez be capable of? He hits more durable than Garcia, for certain, however Lopez has but to show his energy has totally carried over since he’s made the transfer from light-weight to junior welterweight. There’s little doubt Lopez would be the favourite strolling in, however he’ll must be in prime type if he’s to greatest Martin in entrance of his dwelling city crowd.
Sure sufficient, the one man to defeat Lopez, George Kambosos, was himself an ungainly fighter. Still, Lopez tried to do an excessive amount of too quickly in that struggle, clearly hoping for an early knockout. Suffice to say it’s probably that he’s discovered from expertise. It’s additionally price noting that Lopez did, in any case, greatest Vasyl Lomachenko, arguably one of the vital awkward fighters within the historical past of the game. Believe it or not, there’s so much using on Saturday’s struggle for the person. Names like Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis are attainable opponents ought to Lopez carry out properly this weekend.
What’s extra, Lopez is nice for his promoter, Top Rank, just by advantage of the truth that the he has a colourful character. “I needed to leave the 130 pound division because I no longer needed to lead by example there,” he advised FightHub. Funny? Sure – but in addition good. Such statements attract eyeballs, curiosity and finally {dollars}. As does Lopez’ all of the sudden yelling at Martin throughout a promotional faceoff. To be certain – there’s just one Teofimo Lopez, and he needs you to understand it. Whether or not he’ll take over the junior welterweight division the best way he did the light-weight division, nonetheless, stays to be seen.
