Undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez has vowed to KO the ‘disrespectful’ George Kambosos when their war of words is finally settled in the ring at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, on October 4.
After numerous negotiations and delays, Lopez will make the first defence of his four 135lbs belts when he meets Australian Kambosos next month, almost a year after shocking Vasiliy Lomachenko on the cards to unify the lightweight division.
Should he be victorious against the IBF’s No.1 contender, Lopez will likely move up to 140lbs to face undisputed super-lightweight king Josh Taylor. But first the Honduran-American wants to make Kambosos pay for his comments as the duo have waited for a fight date. Lopez insists he has upgraded his skillset since toppling Lomachenko in 2020 and now Kambosos will pay the price.
“Explosiveness, ring IQ, footwork. I have got much better since the Lomachenko fight. I have improved to the next level,” Lopez told Sky Sports.
“I want to show you what you have yet to see, or haven’t seen since the 70s and 80s. This boxing era now is rocky so I want to bring it back to its roots.
“I’m going to knock him out. I don’t like this guy. I get it. He’s playing a part, playing the tough guy. But disrespecting my family?
“I can’t wait for his face to beat up my hands!”