Bharat Ratna – The Jewels of India: EPIC to Launch Special Show on Independence Day to Celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit
Teofimo Lopez learned his greatest lesson from a career-altering decision.
As he reflects on the decision nine months later, the 25-year-old former unified lightweight champion of the world is still dealing with the ramifications of that choice. A changed Lopez, however, has at present emerged, and is set up to be unveiled.
The Brooklyn native won over fans and viewers with his magnetic personality and attention-grabbing tricks and celebrations, highlighted by behind-the-back punches and backflips after wins.
He took over the 135 pound division with his elusive speed and devastating power, a viral knockout against Bricklayer Mernard launching him toward another level of distinction. A win against veteran champion Richard Commey gave him the IBF title, and and then a victory over pound-for-pound legend Vasiliy Lomachenko made Lopez unified champion, holding the IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
Lopez, known as "The Takeover," was the male monarch of the lightweights, freshly named battle's Fighter of the Twelvemonth and speedily climbing toward the summit of the pound-for-pound bureaucracy. And then came his determination.
The buildup and confirmation of Lopez'due south outset unified championship defense – which was to be fought against Australian George Kambosos – was delayed multiple times considering of a positive COVID exam from Lopez and venue complications. In the days before the bout, Lopez suffered what was revealed afterward as pneumomediastinum, with extensive air in the retropharyngeal space.
In other words, in that location were pockets of air surrounding his chest, centre and neck, likely caused by a tear in the esophagus while he was rehydrating after counterbalance-in. Lopez's team urged him to visit the hospital and delay the bout. A life-threatening condition inside the band, Lopez was likely non condom to fight.
Lopez had a decision to make – postpone the bout again, or risk his life in effort to proceed his rise. He chose the latter.
"Honestly, the corporeality of postponements that were going on and everything throughout that twelvemonth. Preparation 8 to nine months preparing for one fighter, for one fight, information technology takes a lot, it takes a lot out of y'all," Lopez told The Post. "It takes a lot out of a fighter, and merely the amount of cuts, weight drops, going back and along, but chirapsia up your torso like that. The pressure actually was just, I'grand an entertainer. At the end of the twenty-four hour period – fourth dimension. Time is something that nosotros don't become back. And for all those people out there that come up out to back up me and watch me, they're taking the time out of their lives to come out and savour a show that they believe they're gonna have, a good i…
"For me, I had to make a decision, I made an executive conclusion to push that, and say 'I can't let my people down. I tin can't allow the world down.' In reality, I realized more so at present than always, that I've got to be healthy to be able to exercise all that."
Lopez stunningly lost to Kambosos in a dissever conclusion in what went down as the Upset of the Yr, relinquishing his titles – and and so much of his rapid ascension – in the process. After racing out to a 16-0 record, it marked the starting time loss of his professional career. Perhaps more importantly, doctors told ESPN after he was lucky not to die.
"The thing is, there'due south a big divergence between a mistake and a choice," Lopez said. "Mistake, you merely need to learn it once, maybe twice. Nevertheless, a choice is when you keep doing information technology. I learned from my mistakes, and I'm simply moving frontward. Focusing on, if I'm not healthy all the way, you lot guys are non going to see Teofimo in action. But nosotros don't got to worry about that this calendar week, I hope yous."
The loss prompted speculation Lopez might be a "i-hitting wonder" and, rightfully or wrongfully, halted much of the soapbox betwixt his name and the sport's most elite fighters. There was a good reason for the performance, of grade, but the upshot was all that mattered.
Lopez learned his lesson from the loss, and paid the price. At present, he starts his route back.
As he returns to the ring, Lopez enters a new weight class to pale his improvement. He's moving upward to junior welterweight, where he will challenge Mexican veteran Pedro Campa (34-i-1) on Saturday night (10 p.m., ESPN).
Lopez has dubbed this training army camp, and new chapter of his career, The Takeback, as he looks to recapture, and add together to, all he previously possessed, and provided to fans.
"The Takeback, man. It'due south everything," Lopez said. "As we accept over, we're taking back the things that nosotros know we deserve. Everything basically is simply coming around dorsum for everything. Literally, I'grand back for everything. Keep moving forward. Keep moving frontward, that's what nosotros're all almost.
"If we focus also much on the stuff that happened in the by, we'll never evolve. It's all virtually, OK, it happened, that's what information technology is, and there'due south nothing that we tin can do, we can't change it, but what we achieve more at present is, how nosotros come dorsum from it. That's what the Takeback is actually all about. … And I needed this, I needed those failures to make me a champion that I am today."
Lopez admits Campa is non the type of challenge that will restore all that he wants. He was looking to take on Josh Taylor or Jack Catterall, two of the all-time at 140 pounds. He knows, even so, he has to bide his time in a new division and earn those title fights he swiftly got at lightweight, merely with a win, a matchup with Catterall could exist side by side after the two recently traded common interest on Twitter.
Regardless of the quality of opponent, Lopez has dealt with the ramifications of his decision long enough. Armed with new lessons, and a new perspective, The Takeback begins.
"I believe this time around, you lot guys are gonna be like 'Whoa,' honestly, 'Whoa.' Like, 'Dang. This didn't suspension Teofimo, this made Teofimo.' Honestly, I'm simply gonna exist so happy," Lopez said. "I know what I'thou gonna exercise. Information technology's all nigh having that time when it's finally there, and letting y'all all encounter it for yourselves."
Source: https://apeirotools.com/teofimo-lopez-back-for-everything-after-life-threatening-decision/
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