Teofimo Lopez Jr. is back and remains fiery.
The former undisputed lightweight champion takes on Pedro Campa Saturday night in the main event of a Top Rank on ESPN show from Resorts World in Las Vegas.
Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since losing his 135-pound titles to George Kambosos Jr. last November, but this time, he embarks on his campaign to become a two-division world champion as he moves up to junior welterweight.
Golden Boy Promotions head Oscar De La Hoya will be in attendance for the Lopez-Campa card as he desperately seeks a significant fight for one of his top fighters: Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs).
The 24-year-old Garcia has claimed a bout with Gervonta Davis is the only one he desires, but it's unlikely to be staged this year due to fact that Golden Boy continues to push for a joint pay-per-view between Showtime and DAZN, an idea that Showtime previously rejected for a potential fight between WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and former junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia this summer.
Lopez offered his candid thoughts on the possibility of fighting Garcia.
“That could be a publicity stunt to keep Ryan up in the feeds,” Lopez told Fight Hub TV. “My fight is coming up. Everyone is watching me. Come on, guys. You’ve got to think outside the box. So I’m not going to believe it until I see the contract. Let’s talk about Pedro Campa, the guy I’m fighting this Saturday. Ryan did his thing [against Javier Fortuna], Tank did his thing against [Rolando Romero]. This is my time to shine. I’m not going to give all that to Ryan Garcia. F--- you. That’s how I feel. You’re not going to play me. Not anymore. No, not at all.
“I don’t duck no fighter. I take everybody they give me. Ask the Top Rank matchmakers. They’re the greatest in the business. I never say no to any fight, but right now, I’m focused on Aug. 13 and Pedro Campa. Ryan Garcia, he’s just hype. He’s all happy because of his last performance, so he thinks he can take on everybody. He feels like Superman, but really, he’s his own kryptonite.”