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Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter
Teofimo Lopez is promising a “Times Square Takeover.”
Lopez will look to accomplish just that on Friday night when he defends his WBO and The Ring super lightweight world titles against WBO interim titleholder Arnold Barboza Jr at The Ring’s Fatal Fury: Times Square, live and exclusively on DAZN PPV.
Will Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) record his third straight title defense and punch his way closer to a possible clash against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis? Or will Barboza (32-0, 11 KOs), in the biggest fight of his career, play spoiler in Lopez’ home city?
With the stakes reaching a fever pitch, DAZN News analyzes the keys to victory for each fighter.
DAZN
Teofimo Lopez’ keys to victory
Change levels
Lopez changing levels allows him to close the distance and fight forward against his opponents.
It also can freeze up his opponent just enough for Lopez to explode with a lunging pot shot — something 'The Takeover' does very well.
Walk Barboza down
Staying on the front foot and applying steady pressure can yield solid results for the champion as he will be able to keep the points accumulating in his favor by banking rounds.
Add Lopez’ ability to change levels as aforementioned to him walking down opponents and you have the perfect recipe for the Brooklyn native to wow the New York City crowd and sway judges with big, clean punches landed flush.
Hook around Barboza’s guard
Go back and watch Lopez’ masterful performance against Josh Taylor nearly two years ago and you’ll see 'The Takeover' repeatedly wrap compact hooks around the Scottish fighter’s guard.
Barboza keeps an even higher, tighter guard and if it is too taut, Lopez could very well have a field day in unloading his hooks to the temple with heavy-handed pop.
Arnold Barboza Jr’s keys to victory
Be scrappy, muddy up the fight
Arnold Barboza Jr will stand in the pocket and slug it out if need be.
With a skilled boxer who also has power like Lopez, Barboze might need to punch in traffic and refuse to relent to the back foot.
Standing his ground by punching with a boxer-puncher like Lopez could earn the champ’s respect.
It could also earn the gutsy challenger rounds he needs to pull off the upset and play spoiler once again just as he did in a split-decision over Jack Catterall in Manchester, England in February.
Feint to get Lopez out of position
Considering Lopez’ penchant for changing levels and exploding upwards with big punches, Barboza could be aided by feinting to get the champion out of position.
Accomplishing this should pave the way for Barboza to land shots of his own.
Turn the volume up
If Lopez is going to press the action, Barboza is going to have to drive his punch volume up.
Having a high output could make this fight closer than expected and perhaps even push the needle in the challenger’s favor.
This is an essential key if Barboza is going to devise a way to exit Times Square with the WBO and The Ring 140-pound titles in tow.
Watch two incredible fight nights this week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat this week, with two amazing fight exclusively DAZN PPV.
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Fight fans can purchase either these fight nights individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; $24.99 ROW per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fight cards can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 UK and €34.99 Europe.
