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WBO president Paco Válcarcel confirmed last week that Teofimo Lopez is relinquishing the lineal light-welterweight world titles he won over Josh Taylor the previous Saturday, as the 25-year-old is following through with his retirement claim – at least in the interim – as issues outside the ring require his undivided attention.
Continue reading “What Lopez’s retirement means for 140lb division, as Prograis squeezes past Zorrilla”
Teofimo Lopez is a world champion once more, this time at 140lbs, after embracing the outside noise – letting it fuel his fire in more ways than one – en route to an impressive unanimous decision win over former undisputed titlist Josh Taylor. The Scotsman started promisingly but was exposed defensively and had no answers, as the 25-year-old dazzled before threatening a late finish.
Continue reading ““Do I still got it?” Teofimo Lopez silences critics as he outboxes Josh Taylor in UD12, seizes WBO light-welterweight title”
Teofimo Lopez’s light-welterweight campaign took a stumble on Saturday night, despite eventually getting his hand raised via split decision after a ten-round tussle against Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin. Many have since called for the 25-year-old, who had big plans for 2023, to split from his father Lopez Sr and secure a new coaching team after a drab display. Continue reading “‘Do I still have it?’ Lopez’s vulnerability heightened after split decision win over Sandor Martin”
Teofimo Lopez’s Takeback season continues against Spain’s Sandor Martin in the early hours on Sunday, as the 25-year-old former unified lightweight champion looks to continue his light-welterweight campaign with another standout showing. Judging by his bullish comments and a plan to shake up the landscape at 140lbs, will his latest challenge be all plain sailing? Continue reading “Teofimo Lopez vs. Sandor Martin: With big 2023 plans set, is Teo again overlooking his opponent?”
Former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko ends his 10-month layoff against Jamel Herring’s final conqueror Jamaine Ortiz (16-0, 8 KOs) this weekend, knowing the unbeaten American prospect represents the only thing still left standing in his way before the wheels start turning on a potential undisputed title opportunity against Devin Haney in 2023. Continue reading “Lomachenko is the talk of the town at lightweight, but has business to complete this weekend”
The Takeover was rebranded as the Takeback, and former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez did plenty to turn heads on his junior-welterweight debut against a gamely Pedro Campa overnight. The 25-year-old’s fast hands and vicious combos helped him secure a R7 stoppage before calling out all the champions and top contenders at 140lbs – eyeing a return on Dec. 10 at Madison Square Garden – rounding off the year with two fights in four months. Continue reading “The Takeback begins: Lopez overwhelms Campa, secures R7 TKO on junior-welterweight debut”
Ahead of his light-welterweight debut vs. Pedro Campa tomorrow night, former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez reaffirmed his desire to become a two-division titleholder in the near future. First, he must beat a relatively unknown 30-year-old Mexican, nine months after George Kambosos Jr stunned him and snatched his 135lb titles inflicting a first career defeat. Continue reading “Teofimo Lopez has light-welterweight titles in his sights ahead of 140lb debut vs. Pedro Campa”
All during fight week, newly-converted super-lightweight contender Ryan Garcia spoke bullishly of having supreme confidence, both in his ability and mindset, to do what he had set out to against former WBA super-featherweight champion Javier Fortuna at the weekend. Afterwards, the 23-year-old called it a career-best win before again calling for a Gervonta Davis megafight. Continue reading “Fortuna flattened, Gervonta Davis next? Saturday’s showing has Garcia gunning for 140lb showdown”
Some said there were flashes of Floyd Mayweather on show, others were underwhelmed and unsurprised by the outcome. Nonetheless, WBC lightweight titlist Devin Haney travelled to enemy territory and will return having made history as the eighth male undisputed champion in the four-belt era after a UD win (116-112, 116-112, 118-110) over George Kambosos Jr. Continue reading “Haney outclasses, comfortably outpoints Kambosos Jr to unify all four lightweight titles”
“Art of war baby, deception, let them believe this was done… everything is for a cause, a process, trust me.” Three-belt lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr insisted, having returned to the scales again and this time making weight (134.47lbs) ahead of his long-awaited title unification bout with WBC titlist Devin Haney. All things considered, should we believe him? Continue reading “Kambosos Jr involved in weigh-in drama before undisputed lightweight title bout vs. Haney”
Against the odds, WBO light-welterweight mandatory challenger Jack Catterall produced a coming of age display in enemy territory to leave undisputed champion Josh Taylor flummoxed – scoring an eighth-round knockdown to boot. Ultimately his boxing excellence went unrewarded, after some egregious scorecards ringside marred a memorable night’s work. Continue reading “Taylor retains light-welterweight titles with highly controversial split decision win vs. Catterall”
After departing Eddy Reynoso’s tutelage last week citing a desire for independence and an opportunity to build his brand, lightweight contender Ryan Garcia is now with new coach Joe Goossen. Ahead of his return vs. Emmanuel Tagoe on Apr. 9, Goossen has this week claimed nobody will ever beat Garcia at his best. We’ll wait to see whether he can inspire that next level. Continue reading “After bumpy 2021, Ryan Garcia’s coaching change could make-or-break career trajectory”
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