“We Gonna Bring Him Back Down to 130” – Teofimo Lopez Bullish Ahead of Lightweight Title Unification Bout

Boxing fans are set to witness a monumental battle as top lightweight champions collide in a massive unification bout. Vasiliy Lomachenko will defend his WBO, WBA (super), and The Ring titles and attempt to add the IBF lightweight belt to his collection. However, his hungry opponent Teofimo Lopez believes that he will have a size and stylistic advantage over ‘Hi-Tech’.

The IBF champion said, “Stylewise and everything. I know they call him hi-tech. They do all those things like that, but I’m the type of fighter that I bring it to you. I bring the fight to you. I look for the fight and I feel like not only that I’m a big lightweight.”

Moreover, he opined that Lomachenko belongs at featherweight and junior lightweight and plans to send him there following their 12 round bout on October 17. He said, “This guy, he’s better off at 130, 126. I’m gonna make sure that October 17th, we gonna bring him back down to 130.”

‘El Brooklyn’ respects his opponent and is aware of the threat he poses. Lomachenko claimed two Olympic gold medals and boxed for world titles right from his first professional match in 2013. 

Read: “He Might Not Be Ready”- Shawn Porter Weighs in on Teofimo Lopez vs Vasiliy Lomachenko

The Ukrainian is undefeated and has championship reigns at featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight. However, Lopez will back himself, as he has more professional wins and knockouts than the 32-year-old. 

Teofimo Lopez respects no one in the ring

Lopez said, “Like I said, he’s a great fighter, he has all the accolades and everything, all the achievements that he’s done. You know what I mean? And me being 15-0 with 12 knockouts. I’ll be at lightweight world champion. This is for all or nothing and this guy, he’s very talented and so am I.”

Lopez believes that boxers fall to Lomachenko as they respect him too much and don’t throw him off his game. This is where he feels he will be different, as he sees every fight as a fight that must be won. 

The IBF lightweight champion said, “The thing is a lot of fighters, they respect this man too much. I’m in the fight game. I don’t respect no man once I’m in the ring, and that’s what I’m gonna do. Every fighter I face, every fighter that I’m up against, I go out there and I get the job done.”

Read: “He Got a Puncher’s Chance” – Shakur Stevenson Gives His Verdict for Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez

His record and the speed at which he goes about finishing fights are a testament to his claims of not respecting the opponent so much that he gets thrown off his game plan.  

What do you make of Teofimo Lopez’s claims ahead of the biggest fight of his career next month?