Undefeated IBF lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez chuckled when he read the recent statements from his division rival, two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Lomachenko, who holds the WBC franchise, WBA, WBO titles at 135-pounds, said Lopez "holds my belt."
"He's funny, man. That guy is funny," Lopez said to CBS Sports. "He's a funny dude and a funny little man, that's all I can say. He won't understand until that day happens, honestly. A lot of people underestimate me because I'm young. They don't think I have the ring IQ but he will feel it when it comes. Me and my father, we don't talk our sh-t and not back it up. Obviously we have proven that and will continue to prove that.
"I like the fact that [Lomachenko] says that stuff. It keeps me going, keeps me motivated and keeps me knowing that when I whoop his ass, I'm not going to feel bad afterwards."
The two boxers were being positioned to collide in June.
Those plans were dashed aside, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Top Rank, who promote both champions, are hoping to see them collide before the year is out.
Lopez's father, Teofimo Lopez Sr., feels confident that his will topple Lomachenko when the times comes.
"My father, he's on another level," Lopez said. "My father just wants me to become the best fighter in the world. That's his goal and he's just going to do anything and everything. He believes I can take on anyone. He believes in me 100% and that's why I have all of this confidence.
"Lomachenko knows I'm coming. He could feel it. He is probably training as well as I am. We know what we have on the table and what is going to happen that night. He is probably going to try and do his thing and I'm going to do mine. May the best man win but I'm there to win. I don't need to slide in his DMs. He knows what it is, he knows the memo. Once we get our first press conference and get everything going, I'm going to look him in his eyes and he's going to know what's up."