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Teofimo Lopez v George Kambosos Jr. preview: Lopez returns for first time since Lomachenko victory

2 years ago
| BY News Team

Teofimo Lopez is back in action this weekend – his first feature since defeating then pound-for-pound number one Vasiliy Lomachenko to win all the marbles at lightweight.

He’ll put all of that on the line on Saturday night as he faces mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr., an undefeated prospect who boasts victories over former world champions Lee Selby and Mickey Bey.

Will Lopez maintain his hunger?

At the age of 24 Lopez has already climbed the mount Everest of boxing in just 16 professional fights, defeating Lomachenko for the WBO, IBF, WBA (Super), The Ring magazine and WBC (Franchise) belts at lightweight.

Although it’s disputed that Lopez is the official undisputed lightweight champion after the WBC elevated Lomachenko to Franchise champion, and in turn freeing up the WBC world title, it’s widely agreed among boxing critics that Lomachenko was the undisputed champion when Lopez beat him last year.

Even still, Devin Haney now holds the WBC lightweight title and has been calling for Lopez’s name to settle the debate once and for all. But Lopez must first come through Kambosos Jr. on Saturday before talk of further fights can materialise.

We know that Lopez has the hunger to make history in the division, but has he maintained that hunger to now overcome Kambosos Jr.?

It’s a fight that has taken over six months to make after Triller won the purse bid to promote the fight but couldn’t agree on a location for the bout. After negotiations rumbled on, Triller eventually lost the fight following months of deliberation, with Matchroom – second in the purse bid war – picking up the fight, which will now be shown on DAZN.

Coupled with the uncertainty around a largely insignificant bout as far as Lopez is concerned, it’ll be just his second fight in almost two years on Saturday, so there’s a chance that lack of motivation coupled with ring rust could cost him here.

Kambosos Jr. game and ready

Undefeated and brimming with confidence, the Australian challenger will be ready and waiting for any slip-ups that Lopez has made in camp to capitalise and shake up the lightweight division.

It’s undoubted that Lopez is the better boxer, is slicker and hits with real venom. But Kambosos Jr. will have left no stone unturned in his preparation for the biggest night of his career, and there will be consequences for Lopez if he isn’t at his sparkling best.

Still, Lopez has said in the build-up that he is going to knock Kambosos Jr. out in the first round, and you can get him to do so at 20/1, while an early Lopez stoppage within rounds 1-3 has been enhanced from 5/1 to 7/1.

The odds for each to win outright show the gap in quality, with Lopez the 1/10 favourite and Kambosos Jr. the 11/2 underdog; the draw is priced at 25/1.

If you fancy Lopez to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any stage during the fight, you can get him at 4/9, with Kambosos Jr. 9/1 to win by the same method.

Check out all the latest boxing betting odds at William Hill

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