George Kambosos Jr. claimed that Teofimo Lopez was far from dominant in his win over Vasily Lomachenko.
Lopez shocked the boxing world last year when he defeated the unified lightweight champion to claim all four of his belts. His next fight on June 19 is against the Australian Kambosos, his IBF challenger, and Kambosos believes the reaction to his upset victory has been overegged.
“He didn’t dominate Lomachenko - he dominated six rounds because Lomachenko let him,” he said to the DAZN Boxing Show.
“[Lomachenko] didn't throw punches in the first six rounds, I counted three and half punches from him. And one shoulder, we all know he was injured.
“When he started the pace, how vulnerable did Teofimo Lopez look? He’s lucky he had that fitness, and he’s lucky he had that hunger.
“The shoulder was not working, I saw a lot of things Lomachenko should have been doing and he just couldn’t get off, then he thought, ‘F—, I’m going to lose my belts!’”
The challenger believes he has put in the hours to make the fight a real obstacle for the 23-year-old American.
“June 19, what's up: I’m coming to fight, tunnel vision, I am ready to take those belts,” he stated.
“I’ve been away from my family, my kids for nine weeks. It totally changed the fire that is lit, not only to be undisputed.
“I’ve sacrificed it all, been by myself, we have been on a mission in a battle zone. We’re ready for war.
“It means everything, it means my legacy. This has not been an easy journey. Not many fighters, Teofimo definitely hasn't, have gone to another country, been on another turf. I've done it back to back to back, against a former champion.
“Now I’m going to fight the undisputed champion in his backyard. I know I’m going to win this fight, it’s my destiny.”