Arnold Barboza Jr. does not appreciate how Teofimo López sees him as a springboard.
Barboza, the 30-year-old 140-pound contender from Los Angeles, thought he was one of the favorites to face Lopez, the former lightweight champion, in the latter’s debut at junior welterweight earlier this year. The two share the same promoter at Top Rank.
However, the nod went to Pedro Campa, who ended up suffering a TKO loss to Lopez in their 10-round fight at Resorts World Arena Las Vegas last month. It was Lopez’s first fight since his upset points loss to George Kambosos last year.
While Barboza is still eagerly looking for a fight with Lopez, the feeling doesn’t appear to be mutual. In a recent interview, Barboza explained the origins of his animosity with Lopez, the two have traded words in recent months, as he tried to defend himself as Lopez’s best opponent right now. Barboza also called Lopez “entitled” for thinking he can contend for all four division belts so soon.
“He did another interview and he called me a tune-up fight for January and right when he said tune-up fight that’s when I got mad,” Barboza said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “Then all the talk about how he immediately wanted to get into the division and fight for all four belts when it’s like he didn’t do shit in our division. You know? I have worked my whole life to get to where I am in my division. So that was another disrespect, a slap in the face.”
Lopez decided to move up to the 140-pound ranks after his disastrous fight with Kambosos. It was later revealed that Lopez was diagnosed with a life-threatening lung condition that was apparently exacerbated by trying to lose weight.
Since then, Lopez has set his sights on conquering the junior welterweight division.
Barboza noted that Lopez will not be competing for a title in his next fight, anyway, as all belts are currently tied. The WBC belt is currently vacant but will be contested by José Zepeda and Regis Prograis; the WBA was recently won by the Dominican Alberto Puello; the IBF will be contested between Jeremías Ponce Subriel Matías, and the WBO is owned by Josh Taylor, who is expected to face Jack Catterall in a rematch.
Barboza feels it’s only right for Lopez to fight a contender like him before getting a title shot. Even Top Rank, Barboza said, wants to fight each other.
He probably sees me as a big risk and not a reward,” Barboza said of Lopez. “I want to say that everyone he wants to fight is not available. He is talking about big shots, I mean I am also at the top of the division if you look at all the rankings I am at the top. All the guys in front of me are unavailable (right now), so I don’t see any other fights that make sense for him.
“He just came off a loss to Kambosos. For me, if you come out of a loss, you have to get back up. I think he needs to fight a legitimate ranked contender in the 140-pound division before he can talk about getting all four belts. Like I said, he’s a bit spoiled, right? He feels a bit empowered, but I know Top Rank wants the fight to go ahead, so I think it’s just a matter of him agreeing or not.”
