Teófimo López vs Pedro Campa: Odds and predictions for the fight
In his first fight back since losing his title to George Kambosos Jr, Teofimo Lopez is looking to regain any lost ground against Pedro Campa
When Teofimo Lopez upset Vasyl Lomachenko to take the IBF lightweight belt, he was on top of the world. He looked determined and sharp in that fight against one of boxing’s best all-time lightweights.
His first title defense against George Kambosos Jr, though, was a completely different story. Lopez looked lackluster and tired, being easily outboxed by the Australian. With Devin Haney giving Kambosos a taste of his own medicine in Melbourne, it has been a roller coaster in the lightweight division.
Now Teofimo Lopez is dead set on proving that his performance against Loma wasn’t a one-off, and that his outing against Kambosos was not his defining moment. Referring to his upcoming bout with Pedro Campa at junior welterweight as “the Take Back”, Lopez aims to show the world that he is the true champion.
“The Takeover is back! I took over the lightweight division, and I plan on doing the same at junior welterweight,” says Lopez. “Every person goes through challenges, but I’ve put the past behind me and am thrilled to be back fighting on ESPN and in Las Vegas. I am calling this fight the ‘Take Back’ because I am coming to regain what I’ve lost. One defeat does not define a fighter, and it won’t define me.”
Currently the odd-on favorite, Lopez is at -2500 with the Mexican opponent Campa drawing at +1000.
As a straight-ahead fighter, Campa likes to take the middle of the ring and walk his opponent down. A clever counter-puncher like Lopez should, on paper at least, make him pay big for his bravado.
Look for Campa to try and take the fight inside, although Teofimo should be too slippery to get caught in a trading war with him. Lopez is the more skillful fighter and will need to work him from the outside, scoring and then moving out of range.
Campa’s chin is pretty solid so an early knock out would be the result more of luck than plan, but if Lopez can frustrate Campa, the later rounds might provide some fruitful pickings for the New Yorker. A late KO would not be unsurprising.