Teofimo Lopez successfully defended his WBO super-lightweight championship, earning a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Barboza Jr. in Times Square, New York.
The judges` scorecards reflected Lopez`s control of the bout. Max DeLuca and Eric Marlinski both scored the fight 116-112, while David Sutherland saw it even wider at 118-110 in favor of Lopez, granting only a couple of rounds to Barboza.
Speaking after the fight, Lopez commented that he felt “reborn.” He also hinted at potential discussions with his team about moving up in weight class to pursue a fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. Lopez concluded his post-fight remarks by offering a simple, inspiring message: “don’t quit.”
Earlier in the fight, after a cautious initial round where both boxers focused on establishing their jabs, Lopez demonstrated a clear advantage in hand speed. Barboza attempted to increase his activity in the third round, but his jab often fell short, preventing follow-up right hands from connecting.
Barboza`s challenge grew as Lopez`s confidence mounted. A flashy right hand from Teofimo in the fourth round was followed by a small celebratory move. Entering the sixth round with a mark on his cheek, Lopez understood the pressure was on Barboza to disrupt the fight`s flow. Barboza did find success with his right hand late in that round.
In the eighth round, Barboza worked his jab actively to both the head and body, but few shots landed cleanly. One could only wonder how the three judges were scoring the contest through the first two-thirds.
Round 10 saw Barboza increase his urgency, yet he continued to struggle against Lopez`s elusive movement and quickness. While perhaps not showcasing his absolute peak “Takeover” form, this was a definite improvement compared to Lopez`s more labored performances against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.
Arnold Barboza desperately tried to accelerate the pace during the final two rounds. His efforts were often met with strategic clinches and holds from Lopez, tactics that drew the attention and occasional warning from imposing referee Eric Dali.
Ultimately, Lopez`s superior footwork, hand speed, and more precise punching were the deciding factors. He advanced his professional record to 22-1 with 13 knockouts. For Arnold Barboza Jr., this loss marked the end of his undefeated streak, bringing his record to 32-1 with 11 knockouts.
