Arnold Barboza Believes He Can Corner Teofimo Lopez
If there’s a fight that top-ranked junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) wants more than any other, it’s a battle with reigning WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs). But is his desire for that fight foolhardy? Is it time for Barboza Jr. to stop pursuing a fight with Lopez?
LAYING DOWN AN ULTIMATUM
Currently ranked first by the WBO in the division, Barboza Jr. sat down for an interview on the DAZN Boxing Show as he prepares for his January 6 match against Xolisani Ndongeni. It didn’t take long before Lopez became a topic of discussion. On whether he thinks he will ever ensure a fight against The Takeover, Barboza said the following:
“My goal is to put pressure on Teo’s neck, put his back against the wall, and force him to fight me . . . I want to fight for that belt, and if he doesn’t want to fight me, he should vacate.”
A LOST CAUSE?
Barboza Jr. has been down this road before. In January 2022, Lopez was presented with the option to fight the Los Angeles resident. However, he ultimately chose to face Pedro Campa. Then in November 2022, 3kingsboxing.com reported that Lopez said a fight with Barboza was a waste of time.
With Lopez now the WBO champion and Barboza Jr. his number-one challenger, surely that means they would finally fight? Not so fast! After all, this is Lopez we’re talking about – one of the more mercurial personalities in the sport.
He is a fighter who goes by the beat of his own drum. The only thing that seems to move Lopez is money. Many fight observers believe he’s holding onto the belt, waiting for the opponent that can earn him the most dollars.
Right now, that scenario doesn’t include Barboza Jr.. At this point, Barboza should move on. His chasing Lopez seems to be pointless.
