Being mentioned as a potential opponent for Artur Beterbiev has ignited a new fire in Najee Lopez.
Lopez faces Kalvin Henderson in a 10-round light heavyweight bout that is the main event on Saturday at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. The bout will stream on ProBox TV.
Lopez, 14-0 (11 KOs), has never needed motivation, as his trainer Marc Farrait raves about his work ethic. Yet Lopez recently found himself as a rumored opponent for Beterbiev’s return on November 22. Deon Nicholson instead ended up with the fight, but now Lopez enters his latest bout with an even deeper desire to improve and be ready for a major opportunity in the future.
“I didn’t get the fight, but the call changed my whole mentality,” Lopez told BoxingScene. “When the opportunity arrives, I am just making sure I am prepared.”
Lopez, a 25-year-old from Ellenwood, Georgia, who trains in Florida, faces Henderson, 19-2-1 (13 KOs), who is on a four-fight win streak since being knocked out by David Morrell in a super middleweight bout. Lopez aims to snap Henderson’s win streak and continue to be in the running to land a big fight, as he is ranked No. 10 by the WBA and No. 14 by the IBF.
“I know I am in the conversation with those guys,” Lopez told BoxingScene. “It motivates me to keep pushing and keep getting better.”
Lopez warms up before his fights to country music, and he has movie villains such as Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger tattooed on his body, characters he related to in his youth.
“I wasn’t a tough guy, but I was tough,” Lopez said.
Henderson, a 35-year-old from Fayetteville, Arkansas, received a stern warning.
“I am really simple. I am not the type of guy to pop my shit,” Lopez said. “He definitely needs to be ready. I know that.”
