Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs) had WBO mild welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) wanting cowed throughout their face-off right now within the hallway in entrance of a bunch of media. Barboza Jr. had Teo wanting scared.
Teofimo vs. Barboza Jr. are combating on Turki Alalshikh’s card on Could 2nd at Instances Sq. in New York Metropolis. They’re the third struggle on the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez card.
It’s an ideal alternative for Lopez-Barboza Jr. to steal the present from these two fights, that are anticipated to get a lot of the consideration from followers and the media within the build-up to this mega-event.
Psychological Cracks
The 2 fighters traded some transient trash-talk that seemed like the sort you’d hear on the playground. It went nowhere. Initially, Teofimo appeared assured as he walked as much as Barboza Jr, sizing him up, and telling that he might scent worry coming from him.
When the unbeaten #1-ranked Barboza Jr didn’t again down, you would see the arrogance soften away from Lopez, and it seemed like he needed to flee.
The best way that Barboza bought the higher hand mentally was much like George Kambosos Jr.’s method, which had Teo falling aside throughout their head-to-head confrontations main as much as their struggle in 2021. Lopez doesn’t have a stronger psychological spine.
You can inform from watching him that he’s not in a position to bully somebody, he reveals that he’s fragile. He doesn’t have the self-belief of a winner, which could clarify why High Rank needed to defend him within the final 4 years.
Barboza Jr. wanting actually strong proper now, coming off of wins over Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez in his final two fights. Teofimo goes to have to lift his sport for him to win this struggle. Lopez simply signed a three-fight cope with Turki and it might be a glance of he loses his first struggle of his contract towards Barboza Jr.
.@TeofimoLopez and @JrBarbozaArnold run into one another for the primary time since their struggle was introduced 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0sFjnYwwB9
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 4, 2025
