Teofimo: Barboza not a ‘big fight’ type of opponent

Teofimo Lopez doesn’t feel Arnold Barboza Jr is on his level.

Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO super lightweight belt against interim titlist Arnold Barboza Jr on Friday, May 2, when Riyadh Season brings a big show to Times Square in New York.

The two have sort of circled one another for a while, Lopez (21-1, 13 KO) was asked why he hadn’t fought Barboza (32-0, 11 KO) already, and said he just didn’t feel that Barboza was a big enough fight.

“I’m just focused on big fights, man,” he said. “I don’t think Barboza is that type, but (Turki Alalshikh) asked for the fight, he thinks it’s a great fight, a lucrative fight for this card, and hey, what can I do?”

Lopez doesn’t disrespect or discount Barboza’s in-ring ability, he simply feels he’s on a different level, and that there are other reasons Top Rank never put them together when both were under that promotional banner.

“I think stylistically he’s a strong fighter. I don’t think that he had that fan base,” he said. “He’s 32-0 and he just got an interim world title. At 15 fights, I got my first world title and I won it at Madison Square Garden ... and I’m only 27. Like, how old is he?”

Barboza, for what it’s worth, is 33 years old. It’s also worth mentioning that Lopez’s last two opponents have been Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett, who aren’t exactly box office attractions, though to be fair to Lopez, Barboza had also left Top Rank at that time, and was making his mark with Golden Boy.

The two had plenty of more heated back-and-forth chattering, but Lopez never fully took the bait Barboza was laying out, either.

More from Teofimo Lopez

“We’re here to create big, big fights, and that’s what it’s all about.”

“I’m here to bring and restore balance to this 3D dimension world and take over again, like I always do. Times Square takeover.”

“I’m not here to discredit to none of you fighters, do your thing, but I’m the only real Ring and WBO champion in this bitch. I’m the only world champion sitting here right now. Only one.”

“30-plus million dollars, damn right (Top Rank’s) gonna be here. Money talks, bullshit walks, and you’re full of bullshit.”