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Teofimo Lopez Jr. has voiced his disappointment with Arnold Barboza Jr.'s recent attempts to secure a fight, expressing concerns not only about Barboza's in-ring performance but also his approach to promoting a potential bout.
Lopez, a two-division lineal champion and reigning 140-pound king, did not mince words when discussing Barboza's recent stoppage win over Xolisani Ndongeni after eight rounds.
"Barboza needs to focus on getting better because he looked terrible," Lopez told reporters, offering his assessment of Barboza's performance.
The history between Lopez and Barboza traces back to their time under Top Rank, with Lopez's team considering Barboza as a potential future opponent. However, despite initial discussions, a fight between the two never materialized. Lopez went on to claim the 140-pound championship by defeating Josh Taylor, while Barboza has struggled to attract top-tier opponents.
The tension between the two escalated when Lopez and his team attended Barboza's debut under Golden Boy Promotions at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. After Barboza's fight, he and his team encountered Teofimo Lopez Sr., resulting in a heated exchange of words. The situation intensified when Barboza grabbed Lopez Sr., prompting a strong reaction from Lopez Jr.
"If you touch my father, I'm gonna lay hands on you," Lopez warned. "There are certain ways he's gotta know how to get the fights. Physical is not gonna be the one. I love everyone, but I'm worse than Mike Tyson if you really want to test me. Whatever they were trying to do ain’t it."
Lopez is currently preparing to defend his lineal/WBO junior welterweight crown against former amateur rival Jamaine Ortiz. Their scheduled 12-round championship bout will headline an ESPN show on February 8 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week.