Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) says he desires a crack at a world title towards WBO gentle welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez subsequent after he will get via his struggle towards Xolisani Ndongeni (31-3, 18 KOs) this Saturday evening on DAZN on the Virgin Resorts Las Vegas, Las Vegas.
Barboza Jr. is ranked #1 WBO and needs his title shot towards Teofimo, who has been reluctant to struggle him for some purpose. Some really feel that the High Rank-promoted Teofimo is afraid of Barboza, as they have been each with the identical promoter till lately, and he wouldn’t face him.
Teofimo is making a voluntary protection of his lately gained WBO 140-lb belt on February eighth towards #11 WBO Jamaine Ortiz on ESPN.
If Teo will get via that struggle, the World Boxing Group will order him to defend towards Barboza Jr. subsequent. Teofimo might then both agree, vacate, or be stripped of his WBO title if he feels he’s not concerned about going through him.
This Saturday, January sixth, Barboza Jr. faces Ndongeni in a scheduled ten spherical struggle on the Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Fredrick Lawson card on DAZN. The occasion begins at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Barboza placing strain on Teofimo
“My purpose is to place strain on Teo’s neck and put his again towards the wall and sort of pressure him to struggle me,” stated Arnold Barboza Jr. to DAZN Boxing about desirous to pressure Teofimo Lopez to defend his WBO gentle welterweight title towards him.
“I don’t know the way that works with him being the ‘Tremendous Champion.’ I do know he can get a voluntary [against #11 WBO Jamaine Ortiz] for this one, and I don’t know if I may be the obligatory for the subsequent one.
“Hopefully, that struggle can nonetheless occur. I’m #1 with the WBO, in order that’s the place I need to keep. I need to struggle for that belt. If he doesn’t need to struggle me, he can vacate it,” Barboza Jr. continued about Teofimo.
“I do know concerning the guidelines of the ‘Tremendous Champion.’ I don’t know the way that works, however with Golden Boy behind me, hopefully, they will pull some strings,” stated Barboza Jr.
Various choices for Arnold
“In fact, if the Haney & Ryan struggle doesn’t occur, that’s the best struggle to make is me and Ryan subsequent as a result of he’s the identical promoter, identical community, and in addition Eddie Hearn’s guys,” stated Barboza Jr. “It’s the identical community as DAZN. So there’s a variety of different individuals on the positioning, too.
That might be good for Barboza Jr. to struggle Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney in the event that they don’t face one another. Nonetheless, Haney is large for the 140-lb weight class, and he’ll most likely transfer as much as 147 to struggle Mario Barrios if Ryan or Gervonta Davis don’t comply with face him.
Ryan’s final efficiency towards Oscar Duarte confirmed that he’s not prepared for a fighter like Barboza Jr., and it’s tough to think about Golden Boy making this struggle, despite the fact that it might be an in-house affair.
“That’s the rationale why I needed to signal with DAZN and Golden Boy, as a result of it’s all DAZN, we will all struggle one another. Oscar’s been working with all people, in order that’s a plus,” stated Barboza Jr.
“In fact, that’s 1000%, and I’ve expressed that to my supervisor, too,” stated Barboza Jr. when requested if he’d wish to struggle former WBC & WBO gentle welterweight champion Jose Ramirez, who’s reportedly within the technique of finalizing with Golden Boy.
“I’ve seen him rather a lot for years. First, get via this one [Ndongeni] as a result of my opponent may be very powerful. However first, getting via this one, and as I stated, if I can’t get a title shot towards any of the champions, then a giant title is what I would like, like a Ryan or a Jose Ramirez. Even when it’s not for a belt. Let’s give the followers a great struggle,” stated Barboza Jr.
