Teofimo Lopez slaps Arnold Barboza Jr. at explosive press conference

Teofimo Lopez and Arnold Barboza Jr. went at each other hard again during their second press conference , this time ending in a physical confrontation.

Publicising their fight as part of The Ring's 'Fatal Fury: City of Wolves' card on May 2 , live on DAZN PPV , the pair exchanged more verbal assaults during a heated conference. That was followed by a tense face-off, which quickly descended to pushing and shoving between the two.

When it looked to have been split up, Lopez lunged forward to land a left hand slap on Barboza Jr. The latter was held back by security, with Oscar De La Hoya standing in the middle trying to separate the angry duo.

Speaking in LA, ahead of the New York Times Square bout,  WBO Interim world super-lightweight champion Barboz, 32-0, went on the attack early, claiming Lopez, 21-1, had not been tested by any quality opponent...until now.

"He thinks he is something special, but he ain't. He's been looked after by Top Rank for a long time, on a protection programme. But now he has me," Barboza Jr. stated during the press conference live on DAZN.

"This will be an easy fight for me. He ain't s—t, I'm going to beat the f—k out of you. I'm going to slap that clown around the ring"

WBO world super-lightweight champion Lopez has seen off Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz and Josh Taylor by unanimous decision in his last three fights, and is unbeaten in five, following his split decision loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021.

Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Dressed as a cowboy and carrying a giant bat, Lopez responded, as the rivals continued to shout over each other: "He is no competition to me. I am the giant slayer [in relation to the bat], Arnold is no giant, but I beat giants every fight. I am the s—t and I'll beat the s—t out of him.

"My last four fights were all tougher, harder opponents than Arnold. I've fought harder amateurs."

Lopez and Barboz share a superb three-fight card, in the unique location of Times Square, with Davin Haney against Jose Ramirez, and Ryan Garcia versus Rolly Romero.

Watching on and commenting after, Garcia told DAZN : "That slap sounded loud, he connected. I guess Teo was mad Arnold knocked off his cowboy hat. He must love it."

"I don't think he should do that s—t, but it happened. It will be interesting to see what they do about that now. 

"If he'd done that to me I'd have tried to kill him."

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