Teofimo Lopez was ridiculed by boxing supporters — even some of his own — in excess of a beautiful declaration that he won his fight over new lightweight globe winner George Kambosos Jr.
Lopez, the defending winner, was the small-priced favourite to choose down Kambosos, even proclaiming prior to the fight that he would get with a very first-round knockout.
But Kambosos stunned his opponent and the earth with just one of the gutsiest fights from an Australian observed on the earth phase to assert a break up determination victory (115-111, 115-113, 113-114) Saturday night in New York.
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The challenger exerted his dominance early, knocking down Lopez late in the very first round with a overhand suitable, in advance of heading on to dominate the middle rounds.
It was distinct by the ninth spherical that Kambosos experienced the upper hand and experienced Lopez rattled, although the American did land a several blows late in the contest that built for an intriguing final round.
In the conclude even though, judges and followers alike were confident Kambosos was the deserving winner. Lopez was left with a gaping minimize above his suitable eye and plainly even worse for put on.
Just before a choice experienced been built, Kambosos was witnessed in Lopez’s corner congratulating his opponent on a wonderful struggle and shelling out his respect to Lopez and his crew.
Following the judges’ scores ended up read through confirming Kambosos’ victory, the Australian let the group know.
“Have I altered all 7 days? Have I transformed all job? In no way . . . I am not the king, due to the fact you’ve bought 4 kings. I’m the emperor,” Kambosos declared, braced with the lightweight belt.
“I am the greatest Australian fighter in background.”
OH Of course HE KAM.
George Kambosos Jr. shocks the boxing globe with a break up conclusion upset earn above unified lightweight champion Teófimo López.
The Australian was a important underdog heading into Saturday’s battle.
🎥 @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/HCWoWy7YWN
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 28, 2021
Shortly after, a bloodied and crushed Lopez stood opposite Kambosos and took to the microphone to say he was the winner, considerably to the disapproval of his nearby crowd in New York.
“He’s a hell of a fighter, but I gained tonight, everyone is familiar with that,” Lopez stated to a backdrop of major booing from the audience inside the Hulu Theater at Madison Sq. Yard.
“The referee elevated my hand. I won tonight, I will not treatment what any individual suggests, yo, I won tonight. At the close of the day, I have been below, I finished that, I want to thank God, I want to thank everyone that arrived out tonight. Seem, I ain’t no sore loser, I choose my wins like I get my losses.
“At the end of the working day, person, I’m a true winner, I did what I had to do, and I went out there and did my ideal. I do not treatment what anybody states, man, I am as serious as they arrive, and this is the takeover, person, we really do not halt, we keep coming.
“Yo, at the end of the working day guy, I appreciate you all, I won this fight.”
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Lopez was asked on what grounds he felt he deserved to acquire, to which the New York native stated: “At the finish of the night time, I scored it 11-2. 10-2.”
Kambosos reclaimed the microphone to say Lopez was dazed immediately after the fight, right before silencing him.
“Take it like a champ. Let’’s do it yet again in Australia in entrance of 80,000 folks,” the champion claimed.
The reception to Lopez’s outrageous comments was equally as disapproving on Twitter, with admirers labeling the 24-yr-outdated a sore loser.