Report- IBF Will Order Lopez-Kambosos To Be Held In USA

The ongoing saga involving when and where the Undisputed World Lightweight title defense of Teofimo Lopez against IBF top challenger George Kambosos has reportedly taken another twist. And, it’s apparently a win out fo the ring for Lopez.

Mike Coppinger, insider for ESPN, reported Sunday night that he’s learned that the International Boxing Federation could rule as soon as Monday, that Lopez doesn’t have to go to Kambosos’ native Australia for their delayed title fight,

ESPN story on imminent IBF ruling that Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambsos must be staged in the U.S., rather than Australia following a legal dispute https://t.co/CrqjJxzPbH

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) August 9, 2021

As we wrote previously, Triller and their “Fight Club” series has been frustrated by the delay in holding the title bout that they won on a huge purse bid of over $6 million dollars for the seemingly ordinary Lopez-Kambosos matchup. This is in part, because Lopez contracted Covid 19 and began being symptomatic just a couple of weeks prior to the bout scheduled for Miami in June.

It further led to Triller suggesting that the bout be held in October in the unbeaten Kambosos’ homeland for a lucrative live gate, etc. The move being seen in large part to frustrate Lopez to walk away from the fight/his end of the purse (over $3 million).

]So, Lopez and his legal team went to work and filed a 21 page brief to the IBF late last month, citing clauses and policies where they say that Triller couldn’t just move the mandatory defense to a completely different continent without the champ’s consent.

Triller originally discussed an August date for the reschedule and also, in September as potentially part of Oscar De La Hoya coming out of retirement to fight a September 11th in Las Vegas. Neither of those dates could be agreed to by Lopez.

The Honduran born, New York raised star Lopez scored an impressive upset decision win his last time out on October 17th beating one of the top pound for pounder fighters in Vasiliy Lomachenko in Las Vegas. That pushed his career record to 16 – 0, 12 KOs, and, it made him the man to beat at 135 lb. with all the major titles.

As for Kambosos, he was last in action a couple of weeks after that on Halloween winning a hard-fought, split-decision over Britain’s Lee Selby. That made the Australian 19 – 0 with 10 KOs and put him #1 with the IBF. Kambosos blasted Lopez for being irresponsible and testing positive for Covid-19, which set the further delays into motion saying on Instagram at the time,

“Absolutely devastated! I’ve been away from my kids for13 weeks, I flew my pregnant wife over to be by my side, I put every bit of my life in to this camp with my team. I would have ben Undisputed Champions this weekend, I know it and you know it,” Kambosos wrote.

“Your actions and decisions have affected not only our fight but everyone involved in this fight! Pure irresponsibility on your whole side. Our time will come and I promise you and the world that I’m going to take you out worse than ever for everything. You can run but you can’t hide!….”

In the meantime, Lopez agreed to a new extended contract with Top Rank Boxing, which wants a rematch with Lomachenko sooner rather than later.

Now, we wait to see if the Lopez-Kambosos fight is finally going to get a firm date, and could it be in Lopez’s favored location, New York City?