Teofimo shines against Barboza, retains junior welterweight title
Cruises to unanimous decision as challenger does almost nothing
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Lineal/WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez turned in a sharp and dominating performance to retain his title in a unanimous decision against interim titlist and mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr. on the “Fatal Fury” DAZN PPV card on Friday night in New York’s Times Square, which was hosting a boxing event for the first time.
Lopez, who retained the 140-pound crown for the third time, won 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 in defense of the title he won from Josh Taylor by dominating decision in 2023 a flew blocks away at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Fight Freaks Unite also had it 118-110 for Lopez, the former lineal and unified lightweight champion, who turned in the most complete performance on a card that also featured Rolando Romero’s major upset decision win over Ryan Garcia in the main event and Devin Haney’s decision over Jose Ramirez in the desultory co-feature.
“I’ve been telling myself this whole week that anything happening is happening for me and not against me. I felt great. I felt reborn,” said Lopez, who was back in action for the first time in 11 months. “Whatever dream that you have, whatever you wanna put into your life, it’s you and you only. Don’t ever quit. If it’s school, or education in other ways, do your thing. It’s the ‘Takeover.’ You'll see me again.”