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Teofimo Lopez says change of training habits helped him improve, promises to knock out Jamaine Ortiz

Teofimo Lopez. Photo credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo ‘The Takeover’ Lopez 19-1 (13) has credited lifestyle changes for making him a better boxer ahead of his inaugural title defence against Jamaine ‘The Technician’ Ortiz 17-1 (8) at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

Two fights ago Lopez struggled with the awkward skillset of Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin 42-3 (15), settling for a 10-round split decision win. In his following bout against WBO and Ring Magazine champion Josh Taylor 19-1 (13), Lopez looked back to his brilliant best as he wrested the title away from the Scottish southpaw with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.

“Before all of this and before I fought Josh Taylor, I used to take a break,” the 26-year-old from Brooklyn, New York explained. “I used to not really train so much. I used to not always be in the gym. But after I got everything back and became a two-division world champion, I started staying in the gym.

“My trainer, who is my father, always wanted me to stay in the gym. So, I started doing that last August. Since then I’ve gotten faster. I’ve gotten much stronger. My IQ is much sharper. And it’s because I haven’t stopped training since August of last year. And I’m not going to stop. After I beat Jamaine Ortiz, then I will keep staying in the gym.

“The end result is that ‘The Showman’ is returning. There will definitely be a knockout. It’s not going the distance. I’m not going to leave it in the judges’ hands at all. So, everyone tune in and get your popcorn ready.

“It’s been a long journey. And I know what it takes. I don’t want to be known as a fighter who knows how to get to the top but doesn’t know how to keep it. So, I want everyone to tune in so they can see how much I truly love the sport of boxing.”

But the 27-year-old Ortiz from Worcester, Massachusetts – whose lose loss was on points to former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko 17-3 (11) in a competitive fight 18 months ago – says he isn’t turning up just to lie down.

“I can do a lot of things in the ring that people haven’t seen yet,” Ortiz said. “On February 8, people are going to see what I can do in there. When the opposition is better, I fight better, and I believe Teofimo Lopez is going to bring the best out of me. I’m going to show my skills and athleticism on fight night.

“I think I’m more athletic and have more speed than Teofimo. I have a better jab and movement. I have a lot of advantages that will show when we fight.”

“I’m ready to be world champion. I didn’t want any more tune-up fights. I demanded the big fights, and this is a big fight. I’m here to build a legacy in the sport, and this is a legacy fight.”

“I feel great at 140 pounds. I don’t need to sacrifice as much as I did when I fought at lightweight. I’m going to feel a lot better in the ring and that is going to show in my performance on February 8.”