NEW YORK – Teofimo Lopez Jnr let everyone drum up theories that he perhaps was slipping or looking to dodge the challenge of his mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jnr.

On Friday night, to open the Times Square tripleheader of major bouts, Brooklyn’s Lopez fought with the comfort and confidence of a man basking in some home cooking, delivering a unanimous decision victory (116-112, 116-112, 118-110) to retain his WBO 140lbs belt.

By outworking Barboza (127-71 in total landed punches, 54-36 in landed jabs), Lopez claimed a victory in front of Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, who has the checkbook and ability to create Lopez’s dream match – against unbeaten unified welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis – next.

Barboza, 33, waited nearly two years as a Top Rank promotional mate to Lopez without getting the title shot. He then departed for Golden Boy Promotions, and defeated former unified 140lbs champion Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision in November, then edged Brit Jack Catterall in Manchester, England, in February to become the WBO interim titleholder.

Two-division champion Lopez, 22-1, has impressive victories over three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and former undisputed 140lbs champion Josh Taylor on his resume, but he produced consecutive nondescript showings against little-known challengers Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett before this.

Barboza, 32-1, showed an effective jab and precision to open the bout, but Lopez – whose father-trainer, Teofimo Lopez Snr, said has punched harder than he has ever seen from him in this camp – landed an effective right to the rib cage later in the round.

Barboza’s counterpunching success made for a strong showing in the second round, as he dodged Lopez’s most aggressive efforts.

Barboza raised his right hand to the small ringside crowd after landing two effective rights to Lopez’s head in the third.

Lopez’s poise kept the action intense and a battle of wits through four rounds as the champion’s activity set up a hard right to Barboza’s head in the fifth.

Lopez’s advantage in speed and power brought him to do some showboating after he landed another effective combination in the fifth.

A hard Barboza right in the sixth buckled Lopez’s knees, however, and reduced his comfort, bringing the fight to another even battle that the challenger had gotten the better of in his past three bouts.

Another straight right to the head by Lopez in the seventh returned his momentum and the pair exchanged stiff blows to close the session.

Lopez opened the eighth with a straight right to Barboza’s head, and added an effective body shot in a bout marked by its deliberate, thoughtful pace.

Lopez pounded Barboza with 73 power punches while absorbing only 33 from the challenger from El Konte, California. 

Bouncing on the balls of his feet in the ninth, Lopez backed up Barboza with a right and was content to stall the exchanges. Lopez’s jab and movements enhanced the notion that he was leading on the scorecards.

Barboza’s jabs and power lefts helped him in the 10th as Lopez seemed content to rely on his activity and defining shots.

Lopez kept his head elusive, bringing Barboza to pound the body in the 11th. A counter right by Lopez was followed by a clean shot by Barboaz, as each man headed to the 12th behaving as if they led.

A good Barboza right in the 12th reddened Lopez under the left eye. Lopez responded with quality power shots, adding good lefts. Barboza slid in a left to close the bout, and each raised his arms at the final bell. 

It was Lopez, 27, who repeated the action upon the reading of the cards, moving on and confirming his pedigree for any who doubted.

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.