By Declan Taylor
IT IS 5 years since Boxing Information sat down with Teofimo Lopez for the primary in-depth interview with the prodigious New Yorker.
That April day, in Manhattan, as Lopez ready to face Edis Tatli at Madison Sq. Backyard, the teenager had spoken about his plans to dominate throughout quite a few divisions as soon as he had cleaned up at light-weight.
He had additionally defined how his father, Teofimo Sr, a former limousine driver, had sculpted him into the fighter who had real designs on a Corridor of Fame profession. Certainly, his precise quote was a ‘profession that can go down as one of many best ever’. The headline of ‘Golden Youngster’ had appeared becoming.
As he spoke, the 21-year-old usually gazed over to his then girlfriend Cynthia, to provide her a smile or a wave, revealing that he was planning on marrying her as quickly as potential. He beat the skilled former European champion Tatli just a few days later, through fifth spherical knockout and, after celebrating with a slice of pizza just a few blocks from MSG, he and Cynthia tied the knot 48 hours later.
However whereas the above would have been a strong begin to the Lopez fairytale, the 5 years that adopted haven’t precisely panned out as deliberate. He did, after all, win three of 4 belts at light-weight, thanks in no small half to an iconic victory over Vasily Lomachenko in October 2020.
Nonetheless, it was shortly after that victory, among the finest of any lively fighter on the planet proper now, that Lopez revealed he had thought of suicide a number of instances. There was additionally discuss of cash troubles leaving him almost potless regardless of such a speedy ascent to the throne. Then, 11 months on from his victory over Loma, he was dropped en path to a choice loss to George Kambosos Jr.
Al Bello/Getty Pictures/Triller
He rebuilt contained in the ring up at 140lbs with a pair of 2022 victories in 10-rounders towards Pedro Campa after which Sandor Martin however by 2023 his private life was crumbling. His marriage to Cynthia, a former air stewardess he had met whereas on a flight, was falling aside and he claimed he was not in a position to see his younger son in consequence.
It’s inconceivable, subsequently, to know the place we stand on the Lopez story arc as of now, regardless that he’s world champion once more because of final June’s victory over Josh Taylor.
“Issues are nice,” he tells Boxing Information, with out a trace of doubt. “It’s actually nice. I realized from one in all my largest mentors and that’s Bruce Lee. Be water my buddy, which I’ve tattooed proper right here throughout my arm. He says ‘be your self, specific your self, place confidence in your self’.
“These are the three issues that I did main as much as the Loma combat and after it, too – expressing myself to that diploma of simply saying ‘that is what’s happening’. By doing these issues, as an alternative of holding all of it in and letting it mould in and kill me inside, I launched all of that. Sure, I launched it to the general public and to the world it confirmed people who I even have issues I’ve to undergo.
“It’s like a yin yang, proper? It’s important to select your battles. It’s important to select what darkness goes to return. Is it the darkness of serving one thing dangerous or is it the darkness of simply going via that dangerous stuff to get to the sunshine? That’s the distinction maker proper there and never lots of people get that till they’re in it.”
His first super-lightweight world title defence – towards Jamaine Ortiz in February – got here and went with out a lot bother, and few predict him to slide up towards Steve Claggett this weekend both.
And whereas tumult exterior the ring can usually lead to fading performances inside it, Lopez argues it has solely tightened his focus. His coaching camp may need been punctuated usually by tears however Lopez is adamant that can convey out the most effective of him on the James L Knight Middle in Miami Seaside.
“It’s important to realise that, as boxers, it’s our largest blessing,” Lopez explains. “There are lots of issues we are able to’t management however we are able to management one factor – and that’s what occurs within the ring.”
A full model of this function seems within the newest Boxing Information. Purchase right here to learn.