By Ryan Burton
Rising lightweight contender Teofimo Lopez (12-0) is currently in the final stages of his training camp for his April 20th showdown against Edis Tatli (31-2). The fight takes place on the Terence Crawford-Amir Khan pay-per-view undercard in New York at Madison Square Garden. ESPN will distribute the event.
The 2016 Honduran Olympian has been fast tracked through his brief pro career. The plan is for him to fight for a world title before the end of the year.
Lopez and his father/trainer of the same namesake haven’t been shy to express their interest in facing many boxing experts’ pound-for-pound king, Vasiliy Lomachenko.
On April 12th Lomachenko will defend his WBA and WBO lightweight titles against his mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Lopez isn’t very excited about it but revealed that he will be ringside to catch the action.
“Supposedly my parents want me to go out there. I’m going to go out there Thursday and he fights Friday so I’m going to be there,” Lopez told BoxingScene.com from his Las Vegas training camp.
As for the fight itself, Lomachenko is a huge betting favorite. Lopez doesn’t expect the fight to be remotely competitive.
“What do I think about it? It is just to keep Loma tuned up I guess. It’s his mandatory so let’s see what he do man, but these guys are too scared when they get in the ring with Loma,” said Lopez.
The 21-year-old Lopez hopes to face Lomachenko before the end of the year.
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