Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr officially announce June 5 PPV fight

Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr finally officially announced their fight today, which as expected will take place June 5 on a Triller Fight Club pay-per-view. Location was not named, but Miami has been the front-runner in prior reports.

Kambosos (19-0, 10 KO) is looking for what would definitely be a high-end Upset of the Year contender, and wants to establish his legacy as one of the greats in Australian boxing, even the best ever.

“Definitely, this will put me as the greatest ever in Australian boxing,” he said. “My focus has been this kid and taking his belts.”

As for the belts, Lopez only brought his IBF and Ring Magazine straps to the show, though his WBA and WBO titles will also be on the line, as well as the WBC’s “franchise” belt.

“I’m a little upset that he didn’t bring the other belts as well. I’m gonna take ‘em all off you,” Kambosos said, to which Lopez replied, “This is as close as you’re getting to these.”

Lopez (16-0, 12 KO) insists he’s not looking past Kambosos, but he knows this isn’t the fight people wanted to see next, and he has an eye on the bigger names.

“This is someone that’s in front of me, he’s in my way at the moment,” he said. “I gotta move him to the side and move to the guys everyone wants to see me fight next.”

Lopez added, “I’ve been in the big leagues. I’ve been in with guys who have the experience. But I don’t overlook nobody that I face. I’m only getting better. The Lomachenko fight helped me a lot. I have more things in my arsenal that this guy’s not gonna see coming.”

As for Teofimo recently saying he thinks he’ll get a win inside three rounds, Kambosos scoffed. “If they think it’s gonna be three, no problem,” he said. “Prepare for three! But I’m gonna prepare for every single round.”

The fighters then put on a little theatrical show, with Lopez removing his shirt and the two squaring up like they were about to fight, with host Ray Flores stepping between them, an unlikely happening if the two had any real intention of throwing hands. To make it look slightly more real, one (1) other person was also in the middle.

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Lopez really fired up at that point.

“I’ll put you on a fuckin’ stretcher. You’re gonna be a fuckin’ example of why I’m gonna put everybody on their ass,” the champ barked. “I’m gonna put my foot on your neck, my dude. You should be thanking me, my guy.”

After things “calmed down” and returned to normal, it was pretty much standard stuff.

“I feel like this is owed to me. I’ve come from the local shows, a handful of people in Sydney, Australia. I’ve gone all around the world, gone into the backyards of former champions. I’m going into the backyard of the undisputed champion right now,” Kambosos said.

“I’m ready, man. I’ve been through it all. I haven’t had no one pushing me. I haven’t had no big platform. I’ve had that underdog mentality a long time, and I’m the underdog again. He is the favorite, but when he’s been the underdog, he’s performed. When he’s been the favorite, he hasn’t performed. The pressure is on him.”

Kambosos ended with the bold and expected prediction: “I’m winning this fight. I’m taking all them belts back to Australia. I’m telling you now, I’m winning this fight.”

“It’s going to be one to watch, and it’s going to be a short night. We’re gonna stay focused training. We can’t overlook Kambosos or anyone,” Lopez said at the end. “You have it, you can lose it. We have a great game plan. We know what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna execute it just like the Lomachenko fight but better. You guys are gonna see a better version of Teofimo Lopez than ever before.”

The event will also feature an exhibition between Evander Holyfield, 58, and Kevin McBride, 47.