Teofimo Lopez: Get Your Popcorn Ready!

Get ready for an exhilarating showcase as The Showman, Teofimo Lopez, is set to dazzle in the ring. Lopez is geared up to defend his WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight world titles against Jamaine Ortiz on Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis will face off against former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza.

Presented by Top Rank in collaboration with Takeover Promotions and CES Boxing, tickets for this thrilling event are available for purchase on AXS.com.

The electrifying matchups of Lopez-Ortiz and Davis-Pedraza will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) asserted his dominance by capturing the IBF lightweight world title in December 2019 with a second-round knockout against Richard Commey. After securing the WBA, WBO, and WBC Franchise titles in October 2020 with a victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko, Lopez faced a setback against George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021. Undeterred, he moved up to junior welterweight, triumphing over Pedro Campa and Sandor Martin. In his most recent bout, Lopez stunned the boxing world by defeating former undisputed champ Josh Taylor to claim the WBO and Ring Magazine titles.

Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) rebounded from a competitive 12-round decision loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko in October 2022 with a triumphant 10-round decision over Antonio Moran in his junior welterweight debut, showcasing his resilience and determination.

Reflecting on his training at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, Lopez shared his dedication: "Before I fought Josh Taylor, I used to take a break, not train as much. But after becoming a two-division world champion, I started staying in the gym since last August. I've gotten faster, stronger, and my I.Q. is sharper. After I beat Jamaine Ortiz, I will keep staying in the gym."

Promising an exciting outcome, Lopez declared, "The Showman is returning, and there will definitely be a knockout. It's not going the distance. I won't leave it in the judges' hands. Everyone, tune in, and get your popcorn ready."

Acknowledging his journey, Lopez expressed, "It's been a long journey, and I know what it takes. I don't want to be known as a fighter who knows how to get to the top but doesn't know how to keep it. So, I want everyone to tune in to see how much I truly love the sport of boxing."