Teofimo Lopez says other fighters got shook against Lomachenko
While IBF world lightweight champion Teofimo “El Brooklyn” Lopez (15-0, 12 KO’s) openly acknowledges that WBA super and WBO world lightweight champion Vasiliy “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KO’s) is a good fighter, he is far from in awe of him. In fact, in his mind that is great part of the reason why Loma has been so successful in his career.
For Lopez, many of Hi-Tech’s opponents were far too enamored with the fantastic stories and visuals of his skill set. As he explained to Fight Hype, he will not be so mentally handicapped when he slides through the ropes to face the Ukrainian on October 17.
“Honestly man, if you look at it… we don’t respect him. Every fighter that he has faced, I mean the main guy that I was like ‘holy shoot,’ which was Anthony Crolla, that man was in fear the whole time before that fight! Everybody that he has faced, they already believed the hype train or they all believed in that and everybody gets shook!
And I am the type of fighter that I don’t get shook. You can say that this guy is like a man of steel, I don’t care! I’m the type of fighter that I don’t respect no man when I’m in that ring. That man is there to take my bread and butter! I got a family to raise, I got people to take care of and I am a dog! I am going to fight for my life, this is what I love to do.”
ROLE REVERSAL
Going a step further, El Brooklyn suspects that he and his father have actually gotten in Lomachenko’s head.
“I guess my father really gets to him, gets under his skin. You know that’s good, I’m very happy with that. I’m very happy with the fact that he is kind of is frustrated in some way. I don’t think that Loma has ever gotten this much disrespect from any fighter. I don’t give a shit about him! So it’s like who cares? You can say whatever you want, I could say I’m going to knock you out, you can say you’re going to make me quit. We find out on October 17. That’s all that matters.”
Yet, when it comes to fight night, Lopez is rock solid in his belief that he is ready for anything that Loma may do in the ring.
“This is a dog fight. If I get hurt, it’s a fight, you can expect all that stuff! I’m not going to complain and bitch about it. And that’s why I said that boxing turned into a bitch sport, like what is going on?! So what if somebody head-butts you, so what? If somebody head-butts me and they continue to do it intentionally I’m doing to hit you in the dick, straight up! And we’re going to fight dirty, that’s just who I am. My mentally I don’t care, this is a fight, I’m a dog.”
By: Bakari Simpson
