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Maxboxing 2020 Fighter of the Year: Teofimo Lopez

Teofimo Lopez started bragging a couple of years ago that he’d defeat Vasyl Lomachenko. His father, Teofimo Sr., was even more vocal. He said his son was preordained to be champion. Many laughed.

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Maxboxing Fighter of the Year 2020
Maxboxing Fighter of the Year 2020

Dizzy Dean, the great St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, predicted he and brother Paul would win 45 games in 1934.

 

Writers at the time rolled their eyes. Who did this kid think he is?

 

The brothers won 49 games.

 

Asked later to explain his comment, Dean replied, "It ain’t bragging if you can back it up."

 

Indeed.

 

Teofimo Lopez started bragging a couple of years ago that he’d defeat Vasyl Lomachenko. His father, Teofimo Sr, was even more vocal. He said his son was preordained to be champion. Many laughed. Teofimo was too young. Too inexperienced. He’ll be tentative in the biggest fight of his life. 

 

Even with a few disadvantages (age and size), the "Mozart" of boxing, Vasiliy Lomachenko, will dissect and defeat Lopez. He’ll drive him crazy with angles. Make him miss. Beat him to the punch. Lopez was disrespecting a fighter who had captured two Olympic gold medals, lost once in 396 bouts in the amateurs, and won three world titles in a storied professional career.

 

But still, the trash talk kept coming. Some called it classless.

 

All the outrageousness got Lopez a showdown with Lomachenko last October.  Most figured he’d teach the arrogant kid a lesson. Lomachenko didn’t even insist on a rematch clause. No doubt Lopez was good, but not good enough to beat Lomachenko.

 

The storyline was all set, or so most thought.

 

The script flipped. When the fight began, Lomachenko was the tentative one. At least for six rounds. He circled and feinted, but didn’t do the most important thing when you fight.

 

Punch.

 

Why? A few days before the bout, he said he planned to take over later in the match. OK, but for half the fight, all he showed was he’d easily win a dance contest. There were no counters. He waited. And waited. Until he had no choice.

 

On the other hand, Lopez was consistent. He got off first. Sounds simple, but hardly is. Lopez fired the first and last punches of the fight. He popped a jab and went to the body. He kept that up. Rarely deviated.

 

Lomachenko knew going in that Lopez can punch, but the young man’s quickness perhaps surprised him. The size and reach differences were also a big problem. He’d have to take chances. By doing this he’d be leaving himself open for counters. For the first half of the fight, he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do it.

 

Then he did, and the complexion of the fight changed for a few minutes. He started to land, but Lopez fought back hard as if to say, "I’m not going anywhere."

 

Lomachenko tried to win the fight in the last three rounds, but Lopez took the 12th round big.

 

Underdog Teofimo Lopez was judged the winner by unanimous decision.  

 

"I had to dig deep, man," said Lopez. "I’m thankful. I’m grateful. I thank God first because I couldn’t do it without him. I knew he was coming. “

 

Like Dean, Lopez had backed up his braggadocio, and for that, he’s the Maxboxing 2020 Fighter of the Year.

 

Honorable mention:

Tyson Fury TKO seven Deontay Wilder. Fury showed brains and brawn in stopping the previously undefeated Wilder. His performance was masterful. Before the fight, he said he’d be more aggressive. He was, forcing Wilder back with pinpoint jabs and right crosses. Fury floored Wilder in rounds three and five.  Wilder’s corner threw in the towel in round seven.

 

 

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