By Mark Eisner: Teofimo Lopez returns to the ring to headline towards substitute opponent Sandor Martin stay on ESPN & ESPN+ from Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. The primary portion of the occasion begins at 9:00 p.m. ET.
It’s an necessary combat for the 25-year-old ESPN home fighter Teofimo (17-1, 13 KOs) to point out that he’s obtained the products to change into a star. Mentally, Teofimo seems to be VERY shaky, and his loss to George Kambosos Jr final 12 months confirmed that he’s not an elite fighter.
Undercard
Jared Anderson vs. Jerry Forrest
Xander Zayas vs. Alexis Salazar
Keyshawn Davis vs. Juan Carlos Burgos
Joe Ward vs. Frederic Julan
Damian Knyba vs. Emilio Salas
Tiger Johnson vs. Mike Ohan Jr
Shifting as much as 140 hasn’t modified something, as he regarded simply as poor in his debut within the new weight class towards Pedro Campa as he had towards Kambosos.
It’s painfully apparent from watching Teofimo’s final two fights that High Rank obtained it mistaken with him, and that’s not the fighter they thought he was.
Teofimo is being matched towards a B-level man in Martin (40-2,13 KOs), and if he doesn’t look and/or loses once more, High Rank might want to begin fascinated about dumping him.
Boxing Information 24 will likely be giving stay updates & outcomes under.
Within the co-feature bout, heavyweight fringe contender/prospect Jared Anderson (12-0, 12 KO) faces journeyman Jerry Forrest (26-5-2, 20 KO) in a ten spherical combat. Regardless of having a whole lot of knockouts, the 6’4″ Anderson isn’t an enormous puncher.
Forrest would be the greater puncher on this combat. Anderson has good measurement & boxing expertise, which ought to be sufficient for him to win tonight so long as he doesn’t get clipped by one in all Forrest’s heavy pictures.
High Rank is grooming the 23-year-old Anderson to show him right into a world champion, however they’re going to should watch out with the best way they match him as a result of his protection is porous, and he’ll be susceptible to getting knocked out in the event that they throw him in with punchers like Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua.
Andre Ward: “I believe this can be a tricky combat for Teofimo,” mentioned Ward to Max on Boxing. “Martin could also be a lure combat as a result of Teo has a whole lot of strain on him as a result of he’s on Heisman night time. It’s going to be tough towards Martin as a result of he’s a man that packing containers.
“He lets you do all of the heavy lifting, make the errors, after which he tries to counter, and he’s additionally a extremely good boxer. So Teo has obtained to be on level. Not simply bodily, not simply together with his coaching camp, however mentally, he’s obtained to be in the correct house.”
Max Kellerman: “I’m taking a look at his [Teofimo] second combat at 140. His first trip [against Pedro] Campa, he regarded good, boxed effectively, however his punches didn’t have the identical authority as they did at light-weight. What are you searching for right here?
Tim Bradley: “Going from 135 to 140, I believe he’s [Teofimo] an accumulation sort of puncher now. I don’t suppose he’s a kind of one-punch guys, get them up out of there. I’ll say this. After watching his final efficiency, one, he wants to remain off the ropes.
“If Martin will get him towards the ropes, he’s going to select & poke his strategy to victory. I might say additionally, he must get extra disciplined together with his protection. Generally, he must get a bit complacent contained in the ring, and when he does, these are moments that Martin goes to make him pay.
“I believe, all in all, Teo goes to win the combat. I believe the punching energy goes to make the distinction. The truth that he’s an explosive puncher and a fantastic counterpunch. Martin counters, however he doesn’t counter usually sufficient.”
Kellerman: “Teo is a unique type of athlete. With the 139 kilos he weighed in, he regarded good. He didn’t look wholesome at light-weight. He regarded wholesome and in form at 140, coming in a pound beneath the restrict.”