For a professional boxer, Step is one of the dream of becoming a world champion, and on Friday night, May 2, the unbeaten Arnold Barboza JR (32-0, 11 COs) will finally get his chance when he challenges the WBO Super Lightweight World Champion Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 COs).
The Lopez vs Barboza World Title Bout is part of the Fatal Fury Fight card with a trio of elite matches. The action will take place in Times Square, New York and Air Live on dazn pay-per-view.
Arnold Barboza Jr., a native of Long Beach, California, made his pro -debut in June 2013 when he defeated Gustavo Lopez with unanimous decision. Barboza would continue to win his next 29 battles.
At the Riyadh season Latino Night Card, which took place in November 2024, Arnold Barboza achieved a quality victory when he defeated former Unified WBO/WBC Super-Lightweight World Champion Jose Ramirez as unanimous.
Three months later, Barboza won a victory in a split decision over the highly acclaimed contender at 140 pound Jack Catterall. With the victory, Barboza won the vacant WBO tuss-century Super-Lightweight title.
Now, 33-year-old Arnold Barboza will have the opportunity to make one of his dreams a reality when he faces the ruling WBO world champion. Barboza is a talented boxer whose skill and behavior the defending champion can give a case of Deja Vu.
After having a brilliant performance in his unanimous victory over then United Lightweight Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, Theofimo Lopez led George Kambosos Jr. in his fight as a favorite of 13-1.
In the opening round, George Kambosos achieved a surprising knockout, but Lopez returned the favor by dropping Kambosos in the 10th. After an extremely competitive competition of 12 round, George Kambosos JR won through a split decision.
Almost four years later, Arnold Barboza is able to give Theofimo Lopez the same problem as he followed in 2021. Like Kambosos, Barboza is a competent fighter who is confident, hungry and extremely determined.
In addition to all the other agreements with the previous man who defeated Lopez, Barboza will also go to The Aofimo’s home area as an underdog participating in his first world title attack.
During their first sight, Arnold Barboza knocked Teofimo Lopez’s hat off his head, and Lopez replied by trying to clap Barboza in the face. The hostility between the two is strangely similar to the hostility between Lopez and Kambosos in 2021.
Arnold Barboza JR went on record and said he was hungry and that he was ready to eat. On Friday night, he will have the opportunity to suppress his appetite by stepping into the ring and his world title dreams a reality.
Last updated on 05/01/2025
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