Undisputed lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez spoke with Fight Hype Thursday to talk what’s to come for him in his fighting future.
During the interview, Lopez announced who he will be fighting in his next bout.
“My mandatory,” Lopez said. “That will be my next fight, George Kambosas Jr..”
“The reason why is because the IBF is very strict,” Lopez explained as to why Kambosas Jr. will be his next opponent. “No matter how much they love me. No matter how much of a great champion I am for them. If I don’t fight my mandatory, I have to give up my IBF lightweight world title. Obviously I am not gonna do that. I worked my butt off. I’m defending all my belts. Undisputed. And that will be my next fight.”
Lopez told Fight Hype that he’s also fighting Kambosas Jr. because he believes that he’s the most qualified to receive the opportunity.
“He’s faced at least one or two of the Top 10 guys in the lightweight division. Devin Haney has yet to fight anyone from the Top 10 in the lightweight division, alongside with Gervonta Davis.
“The only one that finally has stepped up alongside with Kambosas Jr. was Ryan Garcia against Luke Campbell, and he got dropped in the second round, came back, and showed that he was a true champion. He came back and he proved that to everybody. That he’s there to fight and to win.”
“So these guys gotta step up to the plate,” Lopez concluded. “I fought three back-to-back-to-back Top 10, Top 5 lightweight champions in the division. So how is it that I’m gonna give it to someone like that who hasn’t even faced a Top 10 (opponent), not even a Top 15 (opponent) ladies and gentlemen. Not even a Top 15,” adding, “Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis. They still have to climb that ladder. They still have yet to climb that ladder. I’m looking down on them because they’re not there yet.”
Lopez added at the end of the interview that if for any reason the deal between himself and Kambosas doesn’t get done, he will be open to fighting one of the fighters he previously mentioned.
“However, if things go south – like I said, if things go south and the deal doesn’t go well, then yes, my next opponent will be either the likes of Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, or Gervonta Davis,” Lopez said.
The fight against Kambosas Jr. has not yet been officially confirmed.
Source: Youtube.com
