"The Takeover" continues - finally

After a lot of delays and a lot of proposed fight dates, it looks like boxing’s most exciting lightweight will be back in the ring. Cancelled shows, Covid, injuries, you name it - this fight seemed like it wasn’t ever going to hear first bell but it looks like we have a date and a venue for boxing star Teofimo Lopez’s first title defense.

The Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos Jr fight is now officially set, yet again, for Monday, October 4 on Triller PPV at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York.

Lopez (16-0, 12 KO’s) will defend his WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles, as well as the Ring Magazine championship, against IBF mandatory challenger Kambosos (19-0, 10 KO’s), a heavily tattooed, Australian tough guy who is nothing if not confident.

This fight, the first title defense for Teofimo Lopez after his exciting win over superstar Vasiliy Lomachenko, has had a lot of trouble getting off the ground. The fight had dates in June, August and September but fell through for a variety of reasons from Covid restrictions to location. Lopez had no trouble with going into

Kambosos’ back yard in Australia but not if he had to quarantine. So, it is headed to "The Big Apple."

Both fighters have some great strengths that they will look to impose on fight night. Kambosos is tough, tenacious and has very good speed. But, going into the bout he is still a big underdog against Lopez who is gifted with lightning-fast reflexes and knockout power.

Now that the bout is a couple of weeks away, both fighters are locked into the final phase of camp and as expected both are hyped up and ready to go. And, in recent interviews, both champion and challenger were quite confident they knew what was going to play out come fight night.

"I’m ready. I can’t wait. I feel wonderful. I’m turned into a bloody fighting machine," said a confident Kambosos. "I’m ready. I have it all. Speed, power, explosive movements, concentration, heart, will and some big balls. I’ve had my eyes on him for a long time. I come to fight, I’m a warrior and I never give up. Teofimo has a glass jaw, but he has never been hit clean, but I’m going to get on top of him with everything I have," said the confident challenger.

And, while Lopez has had his share of delays in nailing down his first title defense, he is now set to go and show why he is the next (self-proclaimed) super star in the sport.

"I’m so untouchable that people can’t even have anything else to say. And then we finish it with a bang," said the Brooklyn and Florida-raised, Vegas-residing Lopez. “I think that he’s a strong fighter, hungry fighter, someone that’s gonna want to come in aggressive, you know, and it’s gonna be a good fight. It’s gonna be one of those fights that you guys see toe-to-toe. And it’s one of those type of events where this guy is one of those guys that has to prove something to himself and this guy, he still has to prove something himself; so it’s gonna be a great matchup," he said.

But, he also doesn’t think it will be a long night. He’s coming for a good time, not a long time.

"Oh yeah. It will. Me and my Dad talk about it and we both agree on it — same thing we sat down and talked about with Commey. It won’t go past three, and that’s what I stay on. I’m even thinking about putting money on it. So yeah, Kambosos, you’re going down within three," promised Lopez.

Folks, this should be fun while it lasts.