Teofimo Lopez, despite being the third fight on the upcoming card in Times Square on May 2, grabbed the spotlight after slapping his opponent, Arnold Barboza Jr., during a tense faceoff on Monday.
Lopez, known for his outspoken nature, engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with Barboza at the pre-fight press conference. However, the situation escalated when they met for the traditional staredown. Barboza initiated the physical confrontation by knocking off Lopez’s cowboy hat, leading to pushing and shoving between the two boxers.
Oscar De La Hoya attempted to separate the fighters, but his efforts were unsuccessful in preventing further escalation.
Before security intervened, Lopez slapped Barboza, prompting a swift response from security personnel who rushed to the stage to prevent a full-blown fight. Even as security escorted Barboza away, Lopez continued to shout at his opponent.
While the Lopez-Barboza faceoff was the most explosive, Ryan Garcia also faced his opponent, Rolly Romero, and Devin Haney met Jose Ramirez. However, these encounters were significantly less dramatic than the confrontation between Lopez and Barboza. All fighters are set to participate in the boxing event on May 2.
This three-fight boxing event is scheduled to take place in Times Square, New York City on May 2 and will be broadcast live on DAZN. There is anticipation for a potential rematch between Garcia and Haney if they both win their upcoming fights, especially given the controversy surrounding their first match, where Garcia’s victory was overturned due to a positive drug test.
