Arnold Barboza Jr. Saw Flaws in Teofimo Lopez Win Over Campa
At the Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada, ex-unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (17-1, 13 KOs) made a successful debut in the junior welterweight division with a seventh-round TKO over Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) on ESPN. With the win, Lopez instantly puts himself in the mix at 140.
Junior welterweights will surely target him as a potential opponent. One such fighter is Arnold Barboza Jr (27-0, 10 KOs). The Los Angeles, California resident was in attendance for Lopez’s stoppage win. Speaking to ESPN after the fight, Barboza was not impressed with what he witnessed.
BARBOZA SEES SOME WEAKNESSES
“I’ve always said Teofimo’s a great athlete. I always said he’s a great fighter. He has great talent. But at 140, to me, he’s still in transition. He’s a little slow.
I see myself in the ring when he was fighting […] I think if it was me in the ring, it would be a way different fight. I just seen a lot of flaws. I’m just happy I came here to experience it; we’re hoping that this fight happens.”
Against Campa, Lopez was patient. After sufficiently softening his opponent up, he finished him off in style. But that’s not how Campa viewed it. When asked to expound on the flaws he saw in Lopez in this new weight, this was how he broke down what he witnessed.
NOT THE SAME AT 140?
“I think the speed of Teofimo is not there. My pressure to apply to him, it would be a whole different ballgame. I’d seen a little huffing and puffing a little bit.
So, there were a lot of mistakes me and my pop’s seen. We’re going to go back to the gym. Hopefully, this fight happens. We’re praying it does. We want it. I mean, I don’t know if he does. Hopefully, it happens.”
It’s not the first time Barboza has been public about a battle with Lopez. Following a decision win over Danielito Zorilla in July 2022, Barboza said if he can’t get a title shot in his next fight, he wants Lopez in the ring.
Lopez has already gone on record saying his fight will occur on December 10 at Madison Square Garden. The question becomes: will it be against Barboza? Based on Lopez’s performance against Campa and Barboza’s comments, fans would welcome it. They are both promoted by Top Rank. Do not be surprised if Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is already working behind the scenes to make that fight a reality.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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