Via Sam Volz: Lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr says he told “lie” Teofimo Lopez arrives “Shut” after he recently complained on Twitter that the 140-year-old boxers weren’t interested in fighting him.
The undefeated WBO Barboza No. 8 (26-0, 10 KOs) said that they tried to set up a fight with Teofimo (16-1, 12 KOs), but the match didn’t go through. So instead of Teofimo facing him, he is planning to fight the level two journeyman Pedro Campa on August 13.
Former four-belt unified lightweight champion, Teofimo will fight for the first time since losing title to hands George Kambosos Jr. previous November.
That loss may have taken something away from Teofimo mentally, leaving him vulnerable to most people at 140.
Teofimo, 24, is gaining weight to 140 instead of 135 in an attempt to avenge his loss to Kambosos. It’s unclear why Teofimo didn’t fight Barboza, as he was a fighter he was rumored to be facing in his 140-year-old debut.
It is possible that Teofimo or his team decided that Barboza was too risky in a fight with him after his long layoff and defeat to Kambosos.
Barboza is arguably a better fighter than Kambosos, so it’s understandable why Teofimo chose not to fight him in his first lightweight bout.
“It’s okay. We tried our best,” Arnold Barboza said to Thaboxingvoice about his team that tried to go to war with Teofimo Lopez.
“I saw a Tweet he posted earlier saying that no one at 140 wants to go against him among the top people. I replied to him, saying, ‘Shut up your lies,’ “ Barboza continued on Teofimo.
Man, I asked for Jose Ramirez and all the heads at 140! We are still discussing fighters. These warriors want nothing to do with me..smh!
And Josh Taylor is an asshole. People are protected like they are in WITSEC!
Damn it! I was born in the wrong era 😮💨 #Boxing https://t.co/O3JAULL7Tx
– Teofimo Lopez (@TeofimoLopez) June 2, 2022
“He’s lying, but that’s okay, hopefully, in the next fight. Let’s see how he does it [against Pedro Campa]. I had some hope [Teofimo would fight him].
“He said a good game, he and his dad [Teofimo Sr], but it is a risk. Who knows how he got back after that loss [to George Kambosos Jr]. He is delusional if he thinks he has won the war. I think he had a ** of his own.
“We will see, hopefully, in the future. Honestly, I respect Teofimo’s boxing skills. He’s talented; you can’t deny it. He will become stronger. Obviously, he won’t feel much weight loss, but I think I’m too big.
“I proved that I can box or I can brawl. It just depends on the game plan we are going to make in that fight. But I got through it, it’s not going to happen, so I have my opponent ahead. It’s time to move on,” Barboza said of him giving up on fighting Teofimo.
