Suddenly champion: Teófimo López after his victory over Wassil Lomatschenko (April 20, 2019)
In autumn 2020, Teófimo López shocked the boxing world. The 24 year old went into the fight as a clear outsider with the Ukrainian Vasil Lomatschenko, one of the best boxers in the world and top dog in the lightweight division. López won on points – and now belongs to the elite himself.
But since his coup against Lomatschenko, López was no longer in the ring. Originally, the southpaw (16 wins, no defeat) was supposed to defend his three titles against the Australian George Kambosos (19 wins, no defeat) last spring. Then came the pandemic and with it ever new postponements, the termination became a never-ending story – which will finally come to an end on Saturday in New York’s Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The ways there were tortuous: The Triller streaming service acquired the broadcasting rights to the fight in February for around six million US dollars (around 5.4 million euros) after López did not financially deal with his promotion agency “Top Rank” and its owner, Bob Arum, had been able to agree. He hadn’t wanted to pay more than two million dollars, the duel was “not a first-class fight.”
Initially, the meeting was scheduled for May, but was then postponed to June 19, until López suffered from Covid-19 disease that canceled this date as well. After that, the fight should take place in Kambosos’ homeland, Australia, which López refused because of the quarantine regulations there. On the new alternative date on October 4th, one did not get into the ring because of trills and López Camp feared competition from an American football game. Kambosos did not agree with a new postponement and complained. Now it was getting too colorful for the IBF association. He withdrew trills the rights, instead the organizer got Matchroom the surcharge. British promoter Eddie Hearn’s agency had originally bid the second highest amount for the fight.
The back and forth in advance was involuntarily weird, but it also shows how complicated the boxing business can be. Apparently Arum was right: The name Teófimo López is not yet one of the most sonorous in the business. What is not due to talent is abundant. López has great timing, he boxed carefully. Lomatschenko also found that out. Before the surprise victory, most of the experts were of the opinion that the fight with a boxer of this quality would come too early for López. The native New Yorker proved them wrong.
López is therefore the clear favorite against Kambosos. The 28-year-old rival from Sydney is also undefeated, but is not yet considered a future world-class boxer. Precisely because of this, it would be easy to underestimate him on your part. He already has the usual sayings on it: “I’m looking forward to November 27th to shock the world,” said Kambosos in the run-up to the fight: “I literally gave blood, sweat and tears during training to make sure that I win the fight, and I will win! «López countered his usual self-confidently and sounded that he was sure that Kambosos» will probably end his career after the fight «.
The US professional cannot afford to lose himself, after all, possible fights against high-profile lightweight competitors such as Ryan García, Devin Haney or Gervonta Davis – and with them the big fees – are waiting. López should know from personal experience: Never underestimate the underdog.
