Teofimo Lopez heads into his return to action after defeat to George Kambosos Jr. with a familiar feeling.
It has been nearly two years since Lopez has fought on ESPN. The former lightweight king is primed to return devastatingly.
Teofimo Lopez in Las Vegas
Lopez will make his junior welterweight debut Saturday evening in the 10-round main event against Pedro “Roca” Campa at the Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World Las Vegas.
Lopez sounded ready to rumble to discuss his comeback and move up in weight.
“It feels great to be back here on ESPN, the greatest platform in the world. I can’t wait to show why Teofimo is the greatest of all time,” he said.
“A true champion never gets distracted. This isn’t my first rodeo – twenty-one years in the game.
“Blood, sweat, and tears. Do your research. See it. Five-time world champion. We’re just here to dominate and do what we always do: entertain.”
“This guy is in front of me to stop my dreams and everything we’re shooting for. Every time I go out in the ring, I risk everything.
“I’m risking my life. We double down every time. When it comes to me, it’s just me versus me, no one else. I thank God for that. He’s always in my corner.”
Teofimo Lopez – 21 losses
“My first loss? It was my 21st loss if we count the amateurs as well. So, I always bounce back. I’m always that type of person. The first step to success is a failure. Saturday night, there will be a lot of people tuning in.”
“Campa has that Mexican style of boxing. He’s going to be aggressive. This is going to be an all-out war. This is going to be a fight. And I’m very excited about that. I love competition.”
Campa stated: “I’m coming very well prepared. I know what I will do in the ring because I know the kind of fighter in front of me.
“He is a great fighter in the world of boxing. But I’m concentrated. I’m very prepared for my fight.”
“We know the kind of fighter we will be fighting this Saturday. Honestly, I trained very hard because, as I repeat, we know the kind of opponent we have. Manny Robles is a trainer with a great understanding. He knows what he wants me to do, and I’m ready to obey what he says.”
“We can do interesting things in the ring. Firstly, I think I’m coming for the victory. By any means necessary, I want to take the victory to Mexico and for my people in Guaymas and Sonora.”
Zayas
In the eight-round junior middleweight co-feature, Puerto Rican sensation Xander Zayas will face Mexican veteran Elias Espadas. Lopez-Campa and Zayas-Espadas will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“It was a great camp. I feel ready. We’re going to put on a great show this Saturday night,” said Zayas.
“It’s about having your dreams and knowing what you want to do in life. I have my goals clearly laid out. I do not doubt that I can achieve each and every one of them.”
“We know that Elias Espadas is a Mexican warrior who is coming with a lot of motivation. He has never been knocked out. But I don’t feel any pressure. We are going to obtain the victory. We know what we have to do in the ring. It doesn’t matter how he will come. I will bring that regional WBO title back to Puerto Rico.”
Espadas
Espadas commented: “Xander is a great fighter. He is a young man who is on the rise. I feel confident.
“I’m confident in the preparation that we have done. I know that this Saturday, we will put on a great show.”
“The person who will win the fight is the one who most wants to win that night, and I have a strong desire to win. That’s why I say that it will be a great fight.”
“This Saturday, Mexico is coming out on top. He wants to win, and I want to win. And on Saturday, we will demonstrate that.”
The undercard — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT — features the return of Las Vegas-born junior lightweight contender Andres Cortes against Abraham Montoya. Undefeated prospects in action include middleweight U.S. Olympian Troy Isley, featherweight U.S. Olympic silver medalist Duke Ragan, Puerto Rican junior welterweight prospect Omar Rosario, featherweight contender Jose Enrique Vivas, and lightweight Charlie Sheehy.
Teofimo Lopez undercard
ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
Teofimo Lopez vs. Pedro Campa, ten rounds, Vacant NABF & WBO International Junior Welterweight Titles
Xander Zayas vs. Elias Espadas, eight rounds, Vacant NABO Junior Middleweight Title
ESPN+ (6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT)
Jose Enrique Vivas vs. Edy Valencia, eight rounds, featherweight
Andres Cortes vs. Abraham Montoya, eight rounds, junior lightweight
Troy Isley vs. Victor Toney, six rounds, middleweight
Duke Ragan vs. D’Angelo Fuentes, six rounds, featherweight
Omar Rosario vs. Esteban Munoz, six rounds, junior welterweight
Charlie Sheehy vs. Juan Castaneda, four rounds, lightweight
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $40 are on sale now and can be purchased at Etix.com.
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