Arnold Barboza vs. Teofimo Lopez: May 2nd Clash Heats Up

Trainer Robert Garcia believes Arnold Barboza has the edge over WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez on May 2nd, given his impressive recent performances. Barboza Jr. has secured consecutive wins against Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez, making him a tough opponent to beat.

Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) cannot afford a loss to Barboza Jr., as he has ambitious plans ahead, including a potential fight with the winner of the IBF-WBA welterweight unification bout between Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. He also has his sights set on facing the winner of the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 rematch in 2026.

Barboza is precise with his punches and difficult to hit, resembling Jamaine Ortiz—a fighter who gave Teofimo serious trouble in their February 8th bout last year. Ortiz exposed some of Teo’s weaknesses, making him look less than stellar in the ring.

Beyond just being the busier fighter, Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs) has been up against stronger competition lately, which works in his favor. Since Teofimo’s loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, Top Rank hasn’t matched him with top-tier opponents, leading some to believe they’ve been safeguarding their investment. Looking at his last few fights, it’s a tough argument to refute. While he’s kept winning, his popularity has stalled due to a lack of elite-level matchups.

With Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Rolando Romero added to the card, the buildup to the final showdown is set to reach another level. During their latest face-off, emotions ran high as the fighters exchanged heated words. The tension escalated with every passing second—barbs were thrown, tempers flared, and the atmosphere turned volatile. Then, things took a drastic turn when Teofimo Lopez slapped Arnold Barboza Jr., an act that Barboza won’t soon forget. In the aftermath, a chilling warning hinted at the storm still to come.

“He crossed the line! May 2^nd,” Arnold Barboza posted on X following the altercation.

“They don’t like each other, and they went at it. It was a pretty hard slap. It’s going to be more fan-friendly, but it’s part of the sport,” said Robert Garcia to Fight Hub TV about the slap.

“I think Arnold is on a great run right now with two good wins [Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez] back-to-back and coming back soon. That favors him,” Robert said.

“This will be his third fight in less than a year. I think activity is a big advantage for Arnold.

“Obviously, you can’t count Teofimo out. He’s a talented fighter and a smart man inside the ring. He knows how to do it when he’s at his best. Hopefully, we get the best out of Teofimo so we can see a great fight.”

Lopez’s strengths lie in his punching power and aggression, giving him the ability to either knock out Barboza Jr. or at least hurt him if he times his shots correctly. Barboza has a tendency to lunge in when throwing punches, which leaves him open to counters. While Catterall was able to land some clean shots on him, he lacked the power to make a significant impact.