Arnold Barboza Gives Teofimo Lopez Three Options for the Future

WBO interim super lightweight champion Arnold Barboza (32-0, 11 KOs) has laid out three possible choices for full WBO titleholder Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) regarding their potential fight.

"In my last two fights, I was the underdog. When I heard the crowd booing, I told everyone—it only fuels me. I’ve always wanted to experience that kind of atmosphere, where the crowd is against you. Knowing that all my hard work, sacrifices, weeks, and months away from my family weren’t in vain.

Teofimo is backed into a corner now. Everyone sees why he avoided me for the last four years. He has three options: take the fight, stay silent, or vacate the title. We’ll see which one he picks.

If you put me and Teofimo in Alcatraz, it would be an all-out war. My manager is already working on it—I think he’s flying to Saudi Arabia right now to discuss it with Turki Alalshikh. Let’s see what can be done.", said Barboza.

On February 15 in Manchester, UK, Barboza defeated Jack Catterall via split decision, capturing the WBO interim title. Full fight stats for Barboza vs. Catterall available here.

Barboza is the mandatory challenger for Lopez’s WBO title. Lopez is reportedly eyeing a unification fight with IBF champion Richardson Hitchins, and there are talks of Barboza’s next fight potentially taking place in Alcatraz, as envisioned by Turki Alalshikh.