Unbeaten Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs) will be attempting to tear the IBF lightweight heading from champion Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KOs) this night on ESPN+ at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Top Rank Boxing is attempting to build the young 22-year-old Lopez into the upcoming Canelo Alvarez, as per Teddy Atlas, and tonight’s fight will discover if he can be that person.
Atlas thinks that Lopez will be equipment for Top Rank to assist build the ESPN+ application by increasing the subscriber base with his attraction, and explosive knockouts.
If the New Yorker Lopez bags tonight, Top Rank will match him upcoming against WBA/WBC [F]/WBO lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in the initial half of 2020. A victory for Teofimo in rival to the talented two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko will provide his popularity skyrocketing.
Atlas: Top Rank sees Teofimo as the next Canelo Alvarez
“Arum and Top Rank need Lopez to win BADLY,” said Atlas on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. “In this case, it is a business. Part of what Arum gave to the table to make the deal with ESPN was that they would be able to make the application with boxing. Arum and Top Rank with Lopez. See at this kid. He is 22, he is a good talent, and he is a puncher, he is charismatic.
“And he is electric, and he goes into the ring and knocks guys out. He is something you can give out, but he is one other thing,” said Atlas in assisting to talk of Teofimo. “He is Latino.
Obviously, he is Latino, and he has got a Latino following. And everyone needs to find the upcoming Canelo. everyone wants the upcoming Canelo because he provides that great Latino following, and that great Latino crowd, and that implies pay-per-view numbers, baby. And that implies the [ESPN] application, and maybe new subscribers.