Lopez ridiculed Lomachenko’s desire for a rematch by stating, he’s fighting my leftovers and focusing on Josh Taylor
As the world’s No. 1 lightweight, Lomachenko’s career ended abruptly when Lopez unified the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles last year.
George Kambosos Jr. will defend his championships in New York on Monday, October 4.
For the second time in as many years, the division’s monarch will not be challenged by an old foe, Lopez told Sky Sports, “Even Lomachenko, the guy himself, acknowledged it. He is attempting to redeem himself by taking on the remainder of my food.
“That everyone believes he’ll get me again is adorable.”
“Now that I think about it? We’ve moved beyond that point. Josh Taylor, for example, is on our radar.”
“There will not be a rematch between the two teams.”
“If I’d lost, they wouldn’t have given me a chance, so I’m not doing it,” he said.
Lomachenko recently defeated Masayoshi Nakatani
Lomachenko most recently defeated Masayoshi Nakatani in nine rounds, an opponent Lopez had beaten on points in the last matchup between the two.
Richard Commey, another of Lopez’s past opponents, is likely to face the Ukrainian, who was once considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
To face Taylor, the undisputed super-lightweight champion, Lopez said: “The man can speak all he wants, but when I walk up to the plate, everyone feels my intensity.
“There is no way around Kambosos Jr.”
“It’s important to me that individuals don’t back down.”
In the face of Kambosos Jr, he promised to deliver: “Spontaneity and footwork are crucial to success in a ring match. Ever after my bout with Lomachenko, I’ve become a lot better. I’ve moved up a notch in my game.
Along with Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Gervonta Davis, Lopez is part of an intriguing trio of young, undefeated American lightweights.
Leonard is confident that his competitors have not earned the right to be compared to the legendary generation
To his credit, Leonard is confident that his competitors have not earned the right to be compared to the legendary generation of Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran.
There is a lot of interest in returning to the period of combatants, but today we have YouTubers battling,” Lopez remarked.
“In addition, they have never faced a world-class fighter. Their only fights have been against guys who aren’t in the top ten or five.”
“I’m not afraid of anybody, and I’m not afraid of anything. There’s no way I’m going to duck or avoid anyone.”
With Sky Sports exclusively broadcasting his bouts in the UK, Lopez had this to say regarding his debut in the country: “Yes, it’s a given. There is only one winner in this game. I won’t waste my time in the UK if I have the chance.”
Image courtesy of Top Rank Boxing/YouTube