By Brian Webber: Tim Bradley gave Teofimo Lopez some uncommon reward in the present day in response to his dethroning of unbeaten WBO gentle welterweight champion Josh Taylor final Saturday.
Bradley has been one among Teofimo’s not vocal critics since his loss to George Kambosos Jr in 2021, taking photographs at him repeatedly for his lackluster efforts.
Out of the blue, after one good combat in opposition to the sluggish, flat-footed, plodding, shopworn 32-year-old Taylor, Bradley has modified his tune about him, a minimum of for now.
Tim thinks that Teofimo (19-1, 13 KOs) has returned to his previous classic self and is happy about it. As one among ESPN’s commentators, Tim should have high quality fighters with Prime Rank to debate.
What may not make Bradley blissful is that after Teofimo’s first spectacular efficiency in three years since his win over Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020, he’s now saying he’s “retiring.”
The 25-year-old Teo quitting now might be construed as him dropping his nerve, figuring out that if he have been to proceed his profession, he can be anticipated to face Regis Prograis, Subriel Matias, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. These guys may probably beat Teofimo and finish his quarter-hour of fame.
Lopez responds to criticism
“Teo was explosive. I believe it had little to do with Taylor being laid off. He was just a little flat. He began off good, after which he died out,” stated Tim Bradley to MillCity Boxing, reacting to Teofimo Lopez’s win over Josh Taylor.
“It was an amazing efficiency. I believed he was again to the previous Teo. The counter-punching was on level. I really like the truth that he received aggressive. He began bringing it to Taylor. Taylor didn’t know the way to answer that. I really like the truth that he had the fireplace in his eyes, strolling ahead.
“Even within the nook, you may see that he was targeted and decided. Nothing was going to cease him final evening. With that type of efficiency, I believe he provides any of the 140-lb champions or some other man on the market; he’ll give them a run for his or her cash. He seemed unbelievable.
“I give credit score the place credit score is due. Teo impressed me final evening, and I knew he had it in him. So if I received to proceed to speak s**t concerning the boy in order that he can exit and play and do what he’s imagined to do, then I’m going to proceed to do this.
“So Teo, it’s as much as you. It looks as if once you get all of the reward on the planet; you don’t carry out. When folks speak s**t about you, you carry out at your best. So that you choose your poison. Which one would you like as a result of I can do each? However yeah, I believed it was a unbelievable efficiency,” stated Bradley.
Teofimo rises to the event
“Particular fighters transfer as much as combat dominant champions, particularly once they’re not championing as a result of one thing went fallacious for them to lose their title and transfer up and beat that man. Teofimo has finished it. He’s a particular man,” stated Max Kellerman to the media after Teofimo Lopez’s over Josh Taylor final Saturday.
“He’s in a position to be his finest when he must be his finest. When the lights are brightest, he’s at his finest, and it’s been this manner all through his profession. Even within the one loss to [George] Kambosos, he had a situation that might have killed him.
“He will get himself up off the canvas and rallies late and scores a knockdown [of Kambosos in 2021]. He simply loses a detailed [twelve round split] choice and that’s the one cause, they [Teofimo & Josh Taylor] have been each 19 fights and 13 knockouts.
“The one distinction is Taylor had survived his shut name with [Jack] Catterall, and the choice didn’t go Teo’s method, which it shouldn’t have in opposition to Kambosos, however he’s a particular man.
“Like if it’s Heisman evening if or if it’s [Richard] Commey for his first belt or if it’s Lomachenko or if it’s Taylor, that’s when he’s been at his finest,” stated Kellerman about Teofimo.
