Teofimo Lopez’s shocking loss to George Kambosos two days after Thanksgiving ruined any chances of the popular New Yorker partaking in super fights with the likes of Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta Davis.
Now operating at junior welterweight, the former three-belt lightweight champion is aiming to become a two-division world champion, and he has long-time target, unified champion Josh Taylor, firmly in his sights. Standing in his way on Saturday from the Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas is Pedro Campa.
The tough Mexican brings a decent reputation but can he put his name in the spotlight by causing what would be a huge upset?
DAZN will have live coverage of Teofimo Lopez vs. Pedro Campa beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
MINUTO A MINUTO
8:15 PM: El pugilisita Teófimo fue tajante cuando le consultaron si hay una manera de que regrese al peso ligero: “Jamás, yo soy el rey, siempre lo seré, ellos me pueden necesitar a mi y yo no a ellos. Ahora todos quieren subir a las 140 lbs”, dijo el catracho, afirmando que le gustaría enfrentar después al mexicano Ryan García.
8:10 PM: Teófimo López ya empieza a prepararse para enfrentar a “La Roca” azteca.
Teofimo Lopez has opened as a massive betting favorite in his comeback fight against veteran Mexican fighter Pedro Campa. According to the top boxing betting sites, Lopez is a huge -2000 to win the fight while Campa is the heavy +750 betting favorite.
Lopez and Campa have agreed to fight in a Showtime Sports event on August 13th. The event is likely to take place in South Florida.
Lopez will be returning to the ring for the first time since he was upset by George Kambosos last November in what was ESPN’s Boxing Upset of the Year. In that bout, Lopez closed as a massive favorite in the -1250 to -800 range but was outworked and outpointed by Kambosos via a split decision.
The loss was the first of Lopez’s professional boxing career and it came immediately after he delivered the best performance of his life. One fight earlier, Lopez upset Vasyl Lomachenko as the +300 underdog to add the WBA (super), WBO, and Ring lightweight belts to his IBF lightweight championship. Those belts are now gone.
Since the Kambosos setback, Lopez has dealt with a litany of health issues. He was hospitalized due to “extensive air in the retropharyngeal space” likely due to a tear in his esophagus suffered in the Kambosos bout. Lopez also underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow last February and arthroscopic surgery on his right hand last March. Now that he’s healthy, Lopez says it is time for the take back.