By: Sean Crose
Teofimo Lopez returned to the ring Friday night time to battle Arnold Barboza in protection of his WBO junior welterweight title. The throwdown was scheduled for a championship 12, but the match’s location – smack dab in the midst of Time’s Sq. – made the bout immediately distinctive. It might be the motion within the ring, nevertheless, that might decide how the struggle could be remembered. The 21-1 Lopez fired crisp jabs within the first whereas the 32-0 Barboza regarded for openings. Lopez landed a tough left to the physique earlier than spherical’s finish. Each males traded within the second, although nothing of specific word occurred. Lopez fired his photographs extra successfully within the third.
Whereas Barboza was actually within the struggle it was clear in spherical 4 that Lopez was edging his man. Lopez took to showboating a bit within the fifth. Barboza wasn’t damaged down but, nevertheless. Certainly, he tagged Lopez within the sixth. It wasn’t sufficient to alter the course of issues, although, for by the seventh Barboza was as soon as extra hesitant to throw. The reality was that Lopez was having a great night time for himself. Because the eighth rolled into the ninth, the struggle had fallen right into a easy sample of Lopez hitting with out getting hit.
Because the struggle wound down, Barboza remained hesitant whereas Lopez basically fired at will. His efficiency in spherical 9 was a masterclass. Barboza tried touchdown on Lopez within the tenth, however Lopez was capable of keep away from the photographs. Lopez continued to impress within the eleventh. Unsurprisingly, the defending champion went on to cruise his approach by way of the twelfth and remaining spherical. It was some form of efficiency, one which earned Lopez a unanimous determination win.
