LAS VEGAS — Teofimo Lopez strutted his method to the ring Thursday evening accompanied by a sword eater and different circus acts as he channeled Hugh Jackman’s “The Best Showman” full with high hat and ringmaster gown.
He was something however in an uneventful junior welterweight title protection towards Jamaine Ortiz, a unanimous-decision victory for Lopez that elicited fixed boos from the Mandalay Bay crowd.
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) prevailed through scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. And whereas he retained his WBO title at 140 kilos, he did not placed on a present and was pissed off as soon as once more by a slick southpaw boxer.
“These fighters do not wish to come and combat,” stated Lopez, ESPN’s No. 1 junior welterweight. “In case you ain’t prepared for this life, get the f— out of my sport. I’m a champion. I bleed for this and I sweat for this and I cry for this. Each time.”
Neither boxer landed many pictures — 78 for Lopez and 80 for Ortiz. Ortiz’s rangy jab gave Lopez suits, and every time the champion closed the gap, Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 KOs) would reset and refused to have interaction. The technique was efficient even when it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing.
Though Ortiz did not wish to trade, Lopez did not do himself any favors along with his personal technique. Lopez largely threw one punch at a time, adopted Ortiz relatively than minimize off the ring and did not goal the physique.
This wasn’t new territory for Lopez. When he confronted Sandor Martin, one other slick southpaw, in December 2022, Lopez once more failed to chop off the ring and was on the profitable finish of a disputed determination.
After that combat, Lopez was caught asking his father and coach: “Do I nonetheless acquired it?”
The reply was a convincing sure after the way in which he dominated Josh Taylor in June to develop into a two-division champion. Nevertheless, Lopez confirmed Thursday evening that he did not be taught a lot from the Martin efficiency; changes weren’t made this time round, both.
“It is not a repeat as a result of I nonetheless acquired it,” Lopez stated. “Do not inform me it is Sandor Martin Half 2.”
Ortiz, a 27-year-old New Englander, gained recognition when he pushed Vasiliy Lomachenko in a aggressive determination loss in October 2022. However identical to he did towards Lomachenko, Ortiz light down the stretch.
Lopez swept the ultimate three rounds to tug out the win Thursday. If Ortiz had gained a type of three rounds on two of the playing cards, the combat would have resulted in a draw.
“I imagine I gained the combat,” stated Ortiz, ESPN’s No. 8 light-weight, who moved as much as 140 kilos for his first title shot. “What can I say, I got here out on the brief finish of the stick as soon as once more. He could not hit me. … He wasn’t touchdown any pictures on me. … I at all times keep true to who I’m. … Make some changes and are available again for an additional title shot.”
Ortiz suffered a critical minimize over his left eye from a conflict of heads in Spherical 7, however his nook was in a position to shortly hold the bleeding underneath management. And whereas his jab and footwork had been spectacular, there weren’t any moments that stood out to judges.
With Lopez urgent ahead, even when it was ineffective aggression, it appeared to win over the judges down the stretch.
The victory nets Lopez his first junior welterweight title protection. One in all boxing’s rising stars, Lopez captured the undisputed light-weight championship when he upset Lomachenko in October 2020.
However he misplaced the titles in his first protection, a choice defeat to George Kambosos in ESPN’s 2021 Upset of the Yr.