FightPost Boxer of the Week: Teofimo Lopez

FightPost Boxer of the Week: Teofimo Lopez

By Gary Kittilsen

Vasyl Lomachenko who is regarded by nearly everyone as the best lightweight in the world was ringside at the Crawford-Kavaliauskas WBO welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden.

However, it was not the main event but the co-main event that captured his attention and the attention of hardcore fans.

The IBF lightweight title scrap between the defending champ Richard Commey of Ghana and upstart prospect and number one contender Teofimo Lopez of Brooklyn, NY, captured the attention of hardcore fight fans and the winner was almost certainly going to be Loma’s next opponent early next year.

The fight was on paper a 50/50 type of fight in the eyes of most pundits. One that may have been too big a test for a 22-year-old Lopez.

However, the upstart prospect shocked the boxing world by landing a picture-perfect right hand that dropped the champ who courageously got to his feet but was finished off just moments later.

Lopez went from prospect status to world champ in a matter of seconds. Capturing the IBF 135 pound world title and setting up a mega-fight with three-division world champ and pound for pound elite Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020.

If there were any questions about Lopez given his last performance and his level of competition thus far, those were all answered Saturday night at the Mecca Of Boxing.

Facing by far his most significant opponent, there was no fear in the young Lopez. The two traded some pretty heavy leather in a fairly even first round. In the second round, the two fired right hands at the same time and Lopez’s landed first and it landed perfectly on the chin of the Ghanian.

Dropping Commey instantly who courageously got to his feet, but was very unsteady. Lopez seized the moment and swarmed the hurt fighter with a barrage of power shots causing Referee David Fields to step in and wave off the bout at 1:13 of round two. Lopez celebrated with his signature backflip and post-fight said

“I’m at a loss for words right now. This is a dream come true,” Lopez said. “[Commey] is a bad man. His shot could’ve done the same to me if he hit me with that shot.”

Brooklyn, NY has produced countless world champs and ring legends. The borough has given us plenty of talented fighters in recent years but it’s been a while since it has given us a real legitimate superstar. Teofimo may just be that guy.

At just 22-years-old and with all the skills a fighter could wish for plus an upcoming fight with one of boxing’s biggest stars in Lomachenko on tap, the young champ has all the right ingredients to become boxings next big star and the next all-time great in the long line of legendary pugilists from Brooklyn, NY.

Lopez will be no doubt a sizeable underdog against Lomachenko when they square off, but he will be the naturally bigger and stronger man and will be the much bigger puncher, the natural size and strength advantage will give the Brooklynite a legitimate shot in being the one who solves the matric and dethrones Lomachenko.