Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis have seemingly been on a collision course for the best part of a decade, since they first shared rounds as teenagers.
For Lopez, his sensational victory over pound-for-pound legend Vasyl Lomachenko to claim the undisputed lightweight crown remains one of his standout performances.
But, since then, the ‘Takeover’ has struggled to captivate fans to the same extent, comfortably breezing past Steve Claggett in his last outing after edging a controversial decision against Jamaine Ortiz.
And now, it seems as though the 27-year-old is willing to utilize the ‘dirty’ tactics he has learned in the gym when competing with the very best in and around his division.
Teofimo Lopez says he is willing to use dirty tactics in his fights
It is no secret that, in boxing, fighters are able to get away with a lot more than what most people would think.
When they initiate a clinch, for instance, both fighters may look to use rough-house tactics on the blind-side of the referee.
And Lopez, when reminiscing about his sparring with Gervonta Davis, believes that these tactics will put him in good stead for future fights.
“We did three rounds, I was 15, he was 18, he was already a pro,” Lopez told Fight Hype. “It’s different now, so much different. But, I gotta say, I don’t [take] no s**t.
“He was trying to make a couple of excuses but if he’s hitting me on the back of the head, I’m hitting him on the back of the head. That’s how it goes. If you’re gonna fight dirty, I’mma fight dirty with you.
“I haven’t yet put in any type of dirty tactics that are legal. But I’m going to because it’s time to start fighting the way they [his rivals] fight.”
Will Teofimo Lopez fight Gervonta Davis?
Since his emphatic eighth-round stoppage over Frank Martin, there has been very little news regarding Davis’ next fight.
The pulverizing puncher did, after all, reach astronomical levels of stardom following his ruthless performance against Ryan Garcia last year, and yet we are still waiting on an announcement for his next outing.
While a clash between Lopez and Davis has long been spoken about, it would appear that, with the pair campaigning in different weight classes, the potential blockbuster showdown may be put on the backburner for now.
Instead, a mooted fight between ‘Tank’ and Jose Valenzuela, who comes off an upset victory over Isaac Cruz, seems far more likely to materialize.