The high expectations leading up to the event were thoroughly disappointed: the card promoted under the banner of The Ring Magazine in Times Square delivered more yawns than thrills, and the fight between Teofimo Lopez and Arnold Barboza Jr was no exception. It turned out to be a never-ending chess match in which Lopez did just the bare minimum to secure the judges’ favor and to keep his WBO Super Lightweight World Title. The fighter of Honduran descent won by unanimous decision with scorecards reading 116–112, 116–112, and 118–110.
That the bout wouldn’t be an all-out war was easy to predict, given the characteristics of both fighters. Barboza has a track record full of dull and forgettable matches, being a boxer who favors a highly tactical and conservative approach. Lopez, for his part, struggles to put on a show against opponents who give him the initiative.
Yet even with those expectations, what unfolded in Times Square managed to fall short. Right from the opening rounds, both boxers kept their work rate extremely low, throwing countless feints, moving cautiously, and landing only the lightest of punches—so much so that boredom became the undisputed ruler of the fight.
At least Lopez had the merit of maintaining a timid initiative: the pre-fight favorite spent most of the time at center ring and, albeit without much conviction, tried to draw out his cautious opponent and provoke more meaningful exchanges.
The rounds passed without any notable action, making scoring extremely difficult. Still, the overall impression was that Lopez had things under control.
Only in the final third of the fight did “The Takeover” show a few flashes of aggression, securing a slight advantage on the scorecards. Incredibly, the first truly meaningful combination of the entire contest came in round nine, which says a lot about the pace of the fight.
Barboza likely realized he was behind and, in the final two rounds, tried to press forward with a bit more intent. But it was too little, too late, and Lopez took advantage by landing some sharp counterpunches that sealed the deal.
Personally, I scored the bout with a four-point edge for The Takeover—matching the score given by two of the three official judges. The third judge’s wider margin was a bit generous, but it doesn’t change the outcome.
Lopez thus got the maximum result with minimum effort, taking few risks and hitting his target without impressing—but also without taking any significant damage. Of course, this performance won’t go down in boxing history, but it’s not the first time Lopez has matched the intensity level of his opponent. And against more aggressive fighters, he may well shine again.
Barboza, on the other hand, has plenty to regret for never truly trying to win. He stayed in his comfort zone and failed to go for broke even in the championship rounds. A real opportunity squandered for the American, who will surely regret his excessive caution once he rewatches the fight. One can only hope this loss encourages him to become a more proactive and courageous fighter in the future.