Via Jim Calfa: Teofimo Lopez had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right hand Thursday in Los Angeles to correct a problem that has persisted since training camp for his last game.
If all goes well for Teofimo, his manager David McWaters believes he can fight for the world title aged 140 before the end of the year.
Undisputed lightweight champion Josh Taylor will soon vacate his four titles to move up to 147, and that will put Teofimo in a great position to fight for one of the belts. It is believed that he will be competing for the 140-lb WBO strap.
Teofimo has been getting wound after wound these days. After Teofimo’s arm heals in six weeks, he will be able to start training in May or possibly fight the lightweight lightweight contender. Arnold Barboza Jr. in June or July at 140.
If Josh Taylor vacated his WBO title by the time Teofimo faced Barboza, they could have won that strap.
It was a formidable opponent for Teofimo to fight in his first bout in the lightweight division. However, he should have enough talent to beat Barboza Jr, assuming he doesn’t enter the competition with another injury.
This will be Teofimo’s first fight in the new weight class, as he has decided to gain weight after the first five years of his career in the 135-lb weight class.
According to ESPN, Teofimo (16-1, 12 KOs) had surgery on his left elbow last February. It was one of three physical problems that caused him many problems.
Teofimo’s most serious health problem was a tear in his esophagus that he faced in his final battle in November against George Kambosos Jr.
“This has been a problem for a long time, and because of that [Kambosos] the fight was postponed so many times, in fact, we had time to fix it, but we never knew we had time, so it went on forever,” said David McWater, manager of Teofimo said. ESPN.
“He’s a tough guy; these people fight with wounds one can’t even dream of. That hand hurt him all the time, and the thing on his elbow hurt him with his hooks. He’s optimistic; he is ready to fight.
It must have been pure hell for Teofimo having to fight Kambosos with all sorts of different injuries last November. On top of that, the fact that Teofimo has to lift weights also makes things difficult for him against the Australian.
All of that combined in one night to accept Teofimo just enough for the Kambosos to win.
