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Teofimo Lopez Wins By KO in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS-Now a full-fledged super lightweight, the flashy Teofimo Lopez gave the rest of the weight division a warning shot on what to expect as he defeated Mexico’s Pedro Campa by knockout before a raucous crowd on Saturday night.
It was lightning in a bottle.
Brooklyn’s Lopez (17-1, 13 KOs) showed in front of his promoter and other promoters like Oscar De La Hoya sitting in front, that he’s ready to challenge any and all super lightweights with an impressive victory over Mexico’s Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) at the Resorts World Las Vegas.
Though notably shorter and seemingly smaller in size, Lopez looked confident as usual in his first fight back since losing his lightweight world titles to George Kambosos last November. He proved it was an aberration with a dominant blend of his athleticism and skill.
Most of the boxing world expected Lopez to be the quicker-handed and more accurate puncher, but fighting at a heavier weight division, especially against a strong fighter like Campa, was a true test.
Immediately Lopez showed his sneaky combinations tinted with almost invisible uppercut finishes, that continually snapped Campa’s head back. But the Mexican quickly showed that those power shots could not faze him.
Around the third round Campa began to find the rhythm of Lopez and his range; soon he surprisingly began landing combinations. Though few were flush, they caught Lopez’s attention and he retaliated with his own sneaky shots that always found the mark.
Accuracy was on display and Lopez had the patent.
Whenever it looked like Campa was about to corner the former lightweight champion, Lopez would use his agility to maneuver around the attack and unload lightning combinations that connected flush.
For a while it seemed Lopez could not crack the chin of Campa who is known as “Roca” because of his sturdy chin.
After seven rounds of chipping away at Campa with sizzling combinations, Lopez found an opening for a short right and left counter and down went the Mexican fighter. Campa beat the count and tried to move away from more danger but Lopez zeroed in like a panther stalking its prey. As he cornered Campa he unloaded 10 unanswered blows that forced referee Tony Weeks to stop the barrage at 2:14 of the seventh-round, a technical knockout victory for Lopez.
The former lightweight champion now has the NABF and WBO regional super lightweight titles and wants more.
“This is the takeover, takeover,” said Lopez. “Like I said, we’ve been at 135 for nine years and it was killing my body.”
The Brooklyn fighter said he expects to return to the prize ring at Madison Square Garden. Among those he has targeted are Josh Taylor and Golden Boy’s Ryan Garcia whose promoter De La Hoya watched Lopez win.
“We want Josh Taylor, we want all the belts,” said Lopez adding that Ryan Garcia would be equally desirable.
As far Lopez’s first foray as a super lightweight, he was able to knock out a fighter that failed to last the distance on only one other occasion.
“That guy was a tough guy,” said Teofimo Lopez’s father Teofimo Lopez Sr.
Zayas
Puerto Rican bomber Xander Zayas (14-0, 10 KOs) erupted quickly flooring Mexico’s Elias Espadas (22-5, 15 KOs) in the first round with a left hook during an exchange of blows. But the Mexican got up and the blows continued.
Elias had never been knocked out before in any of his prior 27 bouts, and he wasn’t going quietly in this fight either. The Yucatan fighter never looked to survive and kept looking for the knockout too. He just never could hurt Zayas.
For three rounds both the Puerto Rican and Mexican exchanged hellacious blows with Zayas always connecting with the bigger blows. Elias never stopped trying and never tried to run away. He maintained a do-or-die attitude and wasn’t about to exchange.
Zayas fired numerous blows to the body and below the belt and was warned three times for drifting far south of the beltline. Referee Russell Mora could have deducted a point, especially because there were at least five blows that landed very low.
“I promise it wasn’t intentional. I wasn’t planning to land it low,” said Zayas about the low blows.
After the final warning the fight resumed. After the fourth round ended the ringside physician examined Espadas who was allowed to continue.
Within seconds of the fifth round the taller Puerto Rican and stubborn Mexican exchanged blows immediately. Espadas landed a left hook and Zayas countered with a looping right that sent the Mexican across the ring and down. The referee stopped the fight at 23 seconds of the round.
“I felt amazing. I’m glad to be back,” said Zayas. “I felt I could have landed more behind my defense. We just have to get better and better.”
That’s bad news for the rest of the super welterweight division.
Other Bouts
Las Vegas fighter Andres Cortes (18-0, 10 KOs) faced Mexican dream buster Abraham Montoya (20-4-1, 14 KOs) and survived eight rugged and face busting rounds in their super featherweight clash. No round was easy as Montoya forced Cortes to dig deep and into his bag of resources and endurance.
Cortes was caught in the corner by Montoya in the sixth round with a sweeping left hook and avoided hitting the floor because of the ropes. The referee could have called it a knockdown but allowed the action to continue. Cortes fought his way out of danger.
Though Cortes won the majority of rounds with right cross pot shots, spins and pot shots from left hooks, he never could fully distance himself from the Mexican ruffian. After eight rounds the judges scored it 79-73 for Cortes.
Middleweight prospect Troy Isley (7-0, 4 KOs) defeated defensively-inclined Victor Toney (6-2-1,5 KOs) by unanimous decision after six rounds. The low action fight saw Isley press and press and Toney diffuse each attack with slippery moves and jab counters. Isley tried to ignite action with some roughhousing but even that proved futile against the non-aggressive Toney. One judge saw it 60-54 and two others 59-55 all for Isley.
Olympic silver medalist Duke Ragan (7-0) had trouble with Puerto Rico’s D’Angelo Fuentes (7-1, 4 KOs) in a six round featherweight clash. But despite a slow start and getting tagged with some big rights, Ragan was able to survive and rally down the stretch and win by decision 58-56 on all three cards.
Puerto Rico’s Omar Rosario (8-0, 2 KOs) out-battled Southern California’s Esteban Munoz (6-2, 4 KOs) after six rounds in a super lightweight bout. Each fighter had moments in the fight with Rosario most effective with the jab and Munoz with a right to the body. Neither fighter attempted many combinations. All three judges scored it 58-56 for Rosario.
Charlie Sheehy (4-0, 3 KOs) was too skilled for Mexican tough guy Juan Castaneda (2-1-2,) in a four round lightweight fight. Castaneda couldn’t throw a straight punch but his chin took everything Sheehy could throw. After four rounds Sheehy won 40-36 across the board.
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More
Those lightweights.
Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.
Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.
Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.
“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.
Even in Las Vegas.
Verona, New York
Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.
Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.
“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.
Foster disagrees.
“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.
Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).
Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.
“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.
Muratalla likes challenges too.
“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.
Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship
WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.
Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.
But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.
“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.
In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.
Bad choice for Mucino.
Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.
Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.
Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.
Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.
“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.
It should be exciting.
Fights to Watch
Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).
Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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Bakhram Murtalaziev was the Fighter of the Month in October
As we close the book on October, let’s look back at the month’s stellar performances. Kenshiro Teraji added another exclamation point to his brilliant career with an 11th-round stoppage of Cristofer Rosales. England’s Jack Catterall, considered no more than a decent domestic-level talent for most of his career, showed that he had been underrated with a comprehensive 12-round decision over declining Regis Prograis. But the top performance, by a landslide, was delivered by Bakhram Murtalaziev who annihilated Tim Tszyu on Oct. 19 in Orlando, Florida.
Murtalaziev was undefeated (22-0, 16 KOs) and the reigning IBF junior middleweight champion, but he was the underdog and the “B” side. As champions go, and there are roughly five dozen across the 17 weight divisions, the California-based Russian ranked among the least well-known. He had won his title in Berlin with an 11th-round stoppage of an unexceptional 38-year-old German-Ecuadorian campaigner, Jack Culcay, and he would be making his first defense.
Managed by Egis Klimas who also handles Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, among others, Bakhram Murtalaziev came from a good barn in the vernacular of a horseplayer, but on paper that alone was insufficient to get him over the hump against Tim Tszyu who a few short months earlier was widely considered the best 154-pound boxer in the world.
That was before he met up with Sebastian Fundora who blemished his record, but that setback could have been written off as a fluke.
As we recall, Tszyu was scheduled to fight Keith Thurman in the initial PBC offering on Amazon Prime Video, but Thurman suffered a biceps injury in training and Fundora was bumped up from the undercard to fill the breach. With only 12 days’ notice, Tim Tszyu went from fighting a five-foot-seven fighter who fights out of an orthodox stance to fighting a southpaw who stood almost a full foot taller. The “Towering Inferno” has his limitations, but poses a special problem to anyone, let alone an opponent with little time to formulate a good game plan.
Tszyu was hampered in the Fundora fight by a gash on his hairline that hampered his vision. The injury happened in the second round when he ducked under Fundora and walked into an elbow. The gash bled copiously throughout the fight and yet the best that Fundora could do was win a split (albeit fair) decision.
To say that Tszyu failed to rebound from the Fundora misadventure would be putting it mildly. Murtalaziev steamrolled him, knocking him to the canvas four times in all before Tszyu’s corner tossed in the towel at the 1:55 mark of the third stanza. It was painful to watch. Referee Chris Young was faulted for allowing the match to continue as long as it did. Compounding Tszyu’s misery, his celebrated father, a first ballot Hall of Famer, was ringside. Kostya Tszyu hadn’t seen his oldest son fight in the flesh since Tim’s pro debut in 2016.
Although the dichotomy is imperfect, Tim Tszyu, who turns 30 on Saturday, is more of a puncher than a boxer. That may work against him so far as clawing his way back to a position of prominence. The noted boxing coach Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, a keen student of the history of boxing in the modern era, expressed this sentiment in a Q and A story for Boxing Scene. “Destructive fighters usually don’t come back to full capacity after bad KO losses,” he said, citing John Mugabi, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, and Naseem Hamed to illustrate his point. Moreover, added Edwards, “No one will ever be afraid of him again.”
But there were two stories that emerged from the Murtalaziev-Tszyu fight. Tim Tszyu crashed, but Bakhram Murtalaziev emerged from obscurity, announcing his presence (pardon the cliché) as a force to be reckoned with. As for his next assignment, the best guess is that it will come against Sebastian Fundora or Errol Spence Jr. who are expected to meet early next year. And based on Murtalaziev’s stunning performance in Orlando, it will be impossible to bet against him.
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Foreman-Moorer: 30 Years Later
Foreman-Moorer: 30 Years Later
By TSS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT JAMIE REBNER — In sports, middle-aged athletes are not supposed to beat opponents who are half their age and in their athletic primes. Only the greatest ones can use guile, technique, and experience to compensate for the dulling of speed, reflexes, and athleticism that have unavoidably eroded with time.
That is why George Foreman’s feat of reclaiming the heavyweight title at 45 is so impressive. It was thirty years ago this coming Tuesday, Nov 5, 1994, that Foreman scored a monumental upset in knocking out Michael Moorer to win back the title he had lost twenty years prior against Muhammad Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle. In doing so, Big George became the oldest heavyweight champion, breaking the record previously held by Jersey Joe Walcott, who had won the title at 38.
When Foreman beat Moorer, he was in the twilight of his second career, a comeback that began in 1987. George had retired in 1977 after losing to Jimmy Young and experiencing a spiritual awakening in his locker room. That led him to become a minister and devote himself to his family and congregation. During his retirement, he opened a youth center in Houston, which required much financial support, prompting him to return to the ring.
After winning 24 straight fights from 1987-1990, Foreman lost his first title shot by decision to Evander Holyfield in 1991. He rebounded from that loss with three more wins before getting a crack at the WBO title against Tommy Morrison in 1993. But his performance against Morrison was disappointing and he lost another decision. After that, Foreman was out of the ring for 17 months before he was gifted another title shot against Moorer.
Foreman got that gift because Moorer, due to his sullen demeanor and curtness with the media, was not a draw with the fans. He was also an unproven champion, having beaten Holyfield for two belts only seven months prior. So. Moorer needed a name opponent who could bring in the crowds for his first title defense. And the other top heavyweights like Oliver McCall (WBC champ), Lennox Lewis, and Riddick Bowe didn’t have close to Foreman’s drawing power. So. deserving or not, Foreman was chosen as the challenger to make a fight that would be worth the public’s attention and pockets.
Even Foreman was surprised by getting selected to fight Moorer. “I never in my wildest imagination thought I’d get a title shot again,” he told Associated Press sports columnist Tim Dahlberg. Still, George was determined to make his third time a charm.
But as motivated as George was, there was an irrefutable gap in speed between himself and the much younger champion. From the opening bell, Moorer used his superior quickness and reflexes to make Foreman look stiff and slow. And although George landed punches early on, he fired them one at a time while Moorer countered with multiple shots. But despite Moorer’s advantage in connects, his trainer Teddy Atlas advised him from the get-go not to stand in front of Foreman and make himself a stationary target for a right-hand bomb.
But Moorer failed to heed that advice as he continued to outwork Foreman in the middle rounds. Although he was winning, Moorer’s overconfidence kept him at close quarters, and he continued to circle unwisely to his left and into Foreman’s dangerous right hand. And despite absorbing many quality shots, Foreman never appeared hurt or discouraged thanks to his granite chin and unyielding resolve. He was determined to win and he was willing to walk through as many flush shots as he needed to do so.
With Moorer content to stay in range, Foreman gladly returned his firepower and he landed some telling right crosses, uppercuts, and plenty of thudding body blows during the battle. And while Moorer continued to pile up points and rounds, as long as George was marching forward and throwing shots, he had a puncher’s chance.
And with a minute to go in round ten, that punch came. After missing a three-punch combination, Foreman scored with a one-two, with the right hand landing on the forehead. He immediately repeated that combination but this time aimed the right hand lower on Moorer’s jaw. That slight adjustment caused his bulldozer right to collide perfectly with Moorer’s chin, sending the champion crashing to the canvas and sprawled onto his back. The champion couldn’t beat the count, and just like that, the fight was over, Moorer’s short-lived title run ending before it ever truly began.
With a single, shattering blow, Foreman etched his name into boxing history. Wearing the same trunks from Zaire 20 years before, he was now heavyweight champion of the world once again. It was a shocking result that defied conventional wisdom since seldom do 45-year-old boxers score knockouts over champions in their athletic primes. But Foreman reminded us that he was anything but your typical quadragenarian. He was special, and he had two distinct heavyweight championship reigns to prove it.
—
About the author:
Jamie Rebner lives in Toronto, Canada. He has been a freelance boxing writer since 2016 and his writing has appeared in The Fight City, Boxing News Online, The Ring, and Ringside Seat magazine. His Substack blog is Fight Fundamental, and he is currently writing a book about George Foreman’s comeback. He is also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @J_NReb.
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