Teofimo Lopez rolls on with another KO victory

NEW YORK -- Lightweight Teofimo Lopez Jr. served up some chopped liver in yet another one-sided destruction of an overmatched opponent.

Lopez, the 2018 FightNights.com Prospect of the Year, scored a one-punch knockout to the body of former two-time European titlist Edis Tatli in the fifth round of the chief support bout of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN PPV card headlined by Terence Crawford-Amir Khan Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Lopez connected on a straight right hand to the liver of Tatli and the native of Prizren, Kosovo, suck to one knee, and never made it back up.

For Lopez (13-0, 11 KO's), 21, a 2016 Olympian representing Honduras, it is his fifth consecutive knockout since going the distance with journeyman Juan Pablo Sanchez in an eight-round bout in February 2018.

"I didn't have the best camp, but I did what I needed to do and came out victorious," said Lopez. "I knew I was going to get him with a body shot. I softened him up and finished him. The takeover is here, man."

Lopez, who is getting married next week, was in firm control all night, letting his hands go in the second round with hard combinations that hurt his opponent. Tatli tried to play it off but to no avail.

Lopez hurt Tatli again in the fourth round with precise combinations and Tatli was struggling to hold on.

The fortress ultimately could not sustain any more damage as Lopez turned off the generator with a brutal right hand to the body. Tatli (31-3, 10 KO's), who trains in Finland, collapsed to one knee -- and just like that --, it was over.

Lopez, who will return in July as the main attraction, wants a fight with unified 135-pound titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KO's), who retained his belts last week with a fourth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla.

However, Lopez will likely have to win a title before Top Rank puts him in against the best. Mikey Garcia is the WBC champion, and Richard Commey holds the IBF belt.

"I want a world title shot next. That's what I want. We promised to take over the show, and once again, I took it over," Lopez said. "I'm ready for Richard Commey or the WBC title. As long as it's for a title, I am ready to go. No one can take my power."