The May 2 fight card in New York is loaded with high-profile matchups, but if you tuned into the press conference expecting a standard round of media-friendly soundbites, you got something completely different. While the main event features Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Teofimo Lopezdefending his WBO super lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr., all anyone could talk about afterward was Garcia and Lopez nearly coming to blows-verbally, at least.
Lopez, never one to hold his tongue, had already stirred the pot earlier in the presser, trading barbs with his opponent. But things really took off when Garcia took the mic.
Garcia vs Lopez: A rivalry in the making?
Midway through Garcia’s comments, Lopez jumped in to remind everyone that he’s still the Ring Magazine champion at 140 lbs. That set Garcia off.
“We don’t give a f- what you are, bro. Enough of this s-,”Garcia fired back, clearly fed up. “I’m tired of hearing this. Enough of this.”
Garcia didn’t stop there. While the two aren’t scheduled to fight next, he made sure to let Lopez know that a showdown was inevitable. “We’re gonna run this. Remember that,” he added.
Lopez brushed it off, claiming he was just bored with how “polite” everyone was being. “This is crazy,”he said.“Ain’t nobody talking s- right now. That’s crazy.”
But the most eyebrow-raising moment came when Garcia opened up about his struggles with mental health.“I don’t know who else struggles with that,” he said, only for Lopez to interrupt: “S-, I do.”
Moments later, Lopez sarcastically clapped and laughed as Garcia wrapped up his comments.“You inspire us all, Ryan,” he mocked.
What comes next?
The Garcia-Lopez exchange was just a brief moment in a long press conference, but it left a lasting impression. While both fighters have their respective opponents locked in for May 2, this war of words has fans buzzing about a potential clash between them down the road.
The tension is already there. Now, it’s just a matter of time before they settle it in the ring.
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