By: Sean Crose
Lightweight king Teofimo Lopez may be a rather self-deprecating person, but he also presents as an honest man – which might be uncanny in this day and age. “I fought the injured Lomachenko,” he admitted in a video presented by FightHype. “I broke my wrist right here. I completely tore the ligament in my right leg, fighting the best boxer in the world at the time. No fans, no audience, quiet as hell. What else can you do against all the odds, man? We all go into a wounded war. I will also be wounded in this fight.”
One can only imagine the resonance these words will create until this Saturday, when Lopez defends her title against the undefeated George Kambosos at the Theater in Madison Square Garden. Lopez, however, seems to be trying to get it all done. “It’s part of the game,” he explains. “It comes with it. That’s what separates greats from becoming legends.” Lopez clearly sees herself – or at least presents herself – has the ability to rise above his peers. “Different mindset, man, different goals, and very different visions.” Then.
Lopez also spoke on video about the hostility between his camp and the Kambosos’ camp leading up to the fight this weekend. “When I had Covid, everyone there felt uncomfortable. And I understand, you may be upset, but don’t disrespect my family. Don’t shout at them and say it’s all disease and they have Covid. It’s a pandemic, it’s a crisis. What happens if I die? “, he asked. “What if I die and people say I’m faking Covid?” While that may be the case, Lopez wants to be seen as a positive influencer.
In fact, Lopez says he and his team are “just trying to create a movement, a positive moment. Because we need good role models, not role models wearing their own necklaces.” When asked how he stays motivated, Lopez readily responds quickly. “Because it never ends,” he said. “That’s the beauty of it. Life goes on, life keeps moving forward, with or without us. Do you stop and let life go on, or do you go with life? And that is what I have been doing.”
“If I want more, I have to do more,” he said. “I have to do things that ninety-nine percent are not willing to do.”
