Trainer Abel Sanchez is picking Arnold Barboza Jr. to dethrone WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez on May 2nd in their undercard fight at Times Square in New York City.
Abel feels that Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs) is the better boxer. He has been more active, fighting frequently, compared to Lopez. All that will play a part in his winning a close decision. Lopez has the power advantage over Barboza, but Sanchez doesn’t see him being able to land his shots.
Barboza’s Sharpness
Teofimo-Barboza Jr. will be the first fight of the night on Turki Alalshikh’s three-fight card at Times Square. In the main event, Ryan Garcis faces Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, and in the co-feature, Devin Haney fights Jose Ramirez.
“Barboza is good at everything. He’s not a big puncher, so, I wouldn’t say he’s 100%. He’s got great legs, and Teofimo’s activity may be the reason why Barboza wins a decision,” said Abel Sanchez to Fight Hub TV about the May 2nd fight between WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez and Arnold Barboza Jr.
It’s going to be difficult for Teofimo to land his punches against Barboza, because he’s not someone that is going to be stationary like his last opponent, Steve Claggett. This is going to be another slick guy, like when Lopez fought Jamaine Ortiz in 2024. He had a devil of a time against that guy, and won a 12 round decision that a lot of fans felt was gifted.
Active & Ready
“Barboza fought not too long ago [February 15th] and he’s going back in,” said Abel. “I think that helps him. The work in the gym isn’t going to be as difficult. It’s now about sharpening up and staying sharp. The weights right. So, all those things are a factor in preparing for a fight.”
Barboza Jr. has been very active lately, fighting on February 15th against Jack Catterall, and on November 16th against Jose Ramirez. He fought four times in 2024. Barboza Jr’s other two fights last year were against Sean McComb and Xolisani Ndongeni.
“I think Barboza is the better boxer. I think he’s got better combinations. He’s got better legs, and he positions better. He sees more things than Teo,” said Sanchez. “Teo is a more talented Pitbull kind of style. So, I think Barboza is going to do things to confuse Teo just like Kambosos dropped him in the first round. He’s going to do things like that is going to surprise him, and win a decision.”
If Teofimo gets off to a bad start in which he starts getting hit a lot by Barboza, it could be downhill from there. That’s what we saw in his loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021. It unnerved him when Teo got dropped in the 1st round, and he never got comfortable after that. Although he did knock Kambosos down in the tenth, he didn’t finish strong in the eleventh and twelfth. When George fought back, Lopez mentally crumbled.
Do or Die?
“It’s kind of an advantage for Barboza that he’s a right-hander. He’s going to get some great sparring, and he wins a close decision. Barboza hasn’t shown us he can be overwhelmed. He hasn’t shown us that he can be dropped, and he hasn’t shown us that he can be handled. Maybe this is the fight where Barboza shows us he is the ruler at 140.
“Does Barboza have a chip on his shoulder, knowing this is do or die? It’s like, ‘You overlooked me and now I’m going to show you.’ I think that’s going to play a big role in this. Barboza and Teo,” said Sanchez, when asked which is the most interesting fight of the three on the Times Square event.
Last Updated on 03/08/2025
