Promoter Eddie HearnMatchroom Boxing) suggests that former undisputed lightweight champion American Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) is regressing. But this is not the only problem of the boxer.
Over the weekend, Lopez barely passed the Spaniard Sandor Martin in the eliminator WBC. And after the fight, the cameras caught the moment when the winner turns to his father / coach, asking him: “Dad, am I still on horseback? Is there still gunpowder in me?”
Opinion Hearna: “If you doubt yourself, then this is already a problem. And if you doubt yourself in boxing, then this is a huge problem. I think that in Top Rank We made a huge mistake by agreeing to this fight. I’m talking about matchmaking. But, on the other hand, if a fighter claims something, then he must be able to cope with diverse opponents. Yes, in this case, Martin was also a late replacement. You know, Sandor is a very bad opponent if you have confidence issues. And the fact that Lopez has problems has long been obvious.
Hearn suggests that Lopez’s problems began after losing the fight with George Kambosos: “First of all, I don’t think he was 100% ready then. After that lost battle, he needed to introduce new faces to the team. It’s not disrespectful, I like his father. But, how on to me, them tandem not works. At them strange relations. I don’t think Teofimo has a problem with his head. But he needs the right coach, he needs a full training camp.”
Hearn suspects that “a lot of people are now going to say, ‘You don’t know.’ But I’m not saying that I’m 100% right. I’m just saying how I see this situation. And I don’t see how Teofimo could beat at least one top in this division. At least not now. He has obvious mental problems, so both Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor will easily beat him. Martin? After combat With him at many will mental Problems. He beat Mikey Garcia. Many consider, what he and Lopez beat. I’m sure he will return. It seemed to me that he was not in optimal shape.”
Hearn believes that now “Lopez is increasingly backing away from the opponent. And it started with Kambosos. The Teofimo who beat Vasily Lomachenko was different – fierce, fearless, confident. Remember how he destroyed Richard Commey. It is possible that he no longer throws punches with the same confidence. Well, physically he does not look like a fighter for this weight. And there are all sorts of rumors that he leads a not quite sports life outside the ring. The fighter who knocked out Commey and beat Lomachenko was feared by everyone. Or at least feared. And now his opponents have no fear.”
Lopez, by the way, already explained that post-match question of his, and he did it in the style of Kambosos. And I wasn’t convinced either.. The loser agrees with Hearn: Now Prograis will kill Teofimo Lopez.