Former undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over Sandor Martin (40-3, 13 KOs) in a super lightweight battle on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Martin’s nose bled profusely after apparently being broken in a first round head clash. Martin scored a flash knockdown with a short right hook in round two, but the bout never really heated up. Lopez stalked while Martin boxed and moved. In the end, judges had it 95-94 Martin, 97-92, 96-93 Lopez.
“It’s so hard to fight somebody like this when they’re running the whole time,” said Lopez afterward. “Every time this guy committed, I countered and got him every time. He just ran the whole time. It’s OK, though. We got a lot to work on. But first off, I want to thank God for this. No matter what it was. I apologize to everybody tonight. This is not how we perform. But, listen, our dancer partner was running the whole time.
“Every time that this man wanted to commit, I was countering him and tagging him. That’s why he was running the whole time. I felt great overall. I knew he was tired. He didn’t want to commit. He was staying on his back foot and just running around the whole time. But it is what it is. This makes it look good. These guys are going to want to fight me now. More than ever. Now this is great. Now I can actually have a good fight.
“We would love to fight Josh Taylor. We would love to fight Regis Prograis. Or even a rematch with George Kambosos. My whole thing now is just staying focused and staying devoted.”
Martin said, “It was a surprise with the judges. I won this fight clearly. For one judge, I only won two rounds? Really? There were two knockdowns. The referee didn’t count one of the knockdowns. He missed all of his punches. That’s a masterclass of boxing. That’s a robbery. But that’s the sport of boxing.
“In the ring, I controlled all the action. The timing. The moments. In the ring, controlled everything with my will. Teofimo was overanxious. In the eighth round, his corner told him, ‘Hey, let’s do it. You could lose this fight.’
“It wasn’t just the broken nose. I only had three weeks of preparation. The broken nose was from an accidental headbutt. But I didn’t worry about this. But I knew that it would hurt every time he punched me there. But he didn’t punch me. Every time he punched me, I said ‘Ow.’ But he touched me three times? Four times, maximum? Really? You win with this?”
;
Even Teo knows he lost. Before the 10th round, he was about to quit in his corner from frustration. Total robbery.
Can’t say “about to quit” in the 10th because he came out and had a decent 10th. But yeah he did look very frustrated.
It was a close fight, but everything broke in Lopez’ favor. He broke Martin’s nose with a headbutt in the first round. Had the fight been stopped after 4 rounds, Martin wins. Then the ref strangely didn’t score a clear knockdown. Lopez got hurt at one point and tangled up in the ropes, and Martin was threatened within a point deduction for landing punches on Lopez. At the end, it was close and I don’t have a problem with Lopez winning. But he caught all the breaks and it was still effectively an even fight.
Am I the only one that thought Martin was robbed? As much as I like Teo, I had Marting winning easily by at least 4 points.
Fights like these make my stomach sick. Martin put in the hard work and fought his a$$ off only to be screwed over by political favoritism of the judges.
You said it all, Martin kicked his ass,he got robbed since he is from Spain.the other 2 Judges should be ashamed,they know Martin won the fight.u said it ,all about Politics.i would like to shake Martins hand.I won’t watch any Boxing in the US,I hope Top Rank sees these comments.Theo. better hope ,the next guy he fights doesn’t have a knock out punch.he knew he lost the fight ,u can see it in his eyes at the end of the fight.ill stick to MMA and Kick boxing,u know who wins those fights.
I didn’t see it as a robbery. Martin’s style makes it pretty easy to give the close rounds to the aggressor. Even the 2nd round you could have made a case for only giving him a 10 to 9.
I will say that Teo has now been overly exposed. He doesn’t have one punch power at 140 and needs to get back to the basics of boxing. A lot of people think he needs a new trainer, but that won’t make a difference if he won’t listen to them either. While I don’t see this fight as a robbery, boxing is subjective and other judges could have favored the slicker fighter.
After Kambosos dismantled him, does he still The Takeover or is just a Leftover?
Good one!
This sport is a an absolute JOKE!!!!!
Lopez lost that fight. Those scorecards were absolute GARBAGE!!! So sick of this crap. Lopez is nothing special, he got an absolute gift tonight.
Well said and excellent points.
Sandor should have gotten credit for the knockdown in round 6. Yep doesn’t seem so dominant at the top level. Starting to look like a shooting star to me, a lost of flash and ah but gonna burn out real soon. I can see him losing to Haney and in a rematch with Loma. I think he probably should have lost tonight. You could see on his face when they were reading the scorecards that he wouldn’t have been surprised with a draw or worse. He needs to drop dad as his trainer or it’s pretty much over.
*round 7 knockdown
Johnatbon York…….. But but but his daddy said he’s gonna be undisputed in 2023.
There is no way Tio the one hit wonder won that fight am I the only one
Horrible decision.
The Take Over has become The Fake Over. He is 17-2 as far as I am concerned. Prograis will smoke him.
Martin is tough fight for anyone, imagine if he had one punch knockout power
Imagine if Rigondeaux has the punching power of Wilder.
Lopez is one dimensional as all he relies on is one punch at a time thinking he’s going to score the one hitter quitter. He’s also always open to counters as he keeps his hands down and lunges in without the jab. He does not have a good jab as Andre Ward, incorrectly alluded to. He can’t beat the job guys at 140 IMO, namely Taylor and Prograis.
Excellent analysis. Lopez relies way too much on his athleticism rather than concrete boxing skills to lead in a fight. Yes, that may work against some fighters, but he may regret that tactic as he climbs the ladder. His climbing of the ladder in the boxing world is rather a weak climb at this point.
Teo, loss this fight and he knows it. He will never fight the elite and his confidence is totally gone.
Those scores were off, Sandor did well enough to deserve the victory for sure
Teo on the other side did good but to say he won 8 rounds is not true
I feel like Teo has other stuff going on that its affecting his boxing career
Between rounds before the 7th
His father is talking to him and Teo just has a look in his face like he is listening but not paying attention, later in another round he does not want tug o sit and just looks like he is ready for the night to be over, I feel bad for the guy cause it just feels as if he is s carrying a cross that he cant let go…the last footage where he is questioning himself was tough and the image of him walking to his locker room crying was to me heartbreaking
I hope and wish him good health these fighters risk their lives for our entertainment and we as fans forget or don’t want to be real and realize that they are human too
i agree with most of what you said except where you said they fight for our entertainment thats incorrect they fight for themselves and they are suppose to be fighting to be the best we as fans just get to watch
MRob3, thank you for the comments. One element to understand as well is boxers on this level know and realize with a sound mind by signing the dotted line on a professional license that risking one’s health is par for the course in the sport. We dont wish anyone major injuries, but it’s part of their jobs risking it.
The referee stoll a Knock out in Round 6. The judges r corrupt, especial one who scores 97-92 with one ko. It’s a fucking schame for all we loves boxing, Teofilo only hit Sándor Martin with the head. FUCKING SCHAME!!
The second knockdown should have counted, It made the big difference in the fight! Lots of credit to martin for fighting with a fracture bleeding nose and cut eye from teo heabutting and lasting the entire fight!
This whole new era of boxing is all hype!! From teo to tank Devin at least is willing to fight everyone while Ryan is waiting to fight anyone damn I miss the good old days when we where willing to fight anyone who crossed our paths thanks to mayweather these guys think that they ARE BOXING so many great fighters that don’t have the recognition or amateur back round but have the professional game in them. Nowadays I guess the loud mouths are what gets recognized damn the sport has changed.
Lopez won. Martin did nothing. He didn’t do all this boxing yall said he did. Lopez landed the more significant shots every round and stalked all night. That running bullshit not cutting it.
Noccowt, you’re the only person who thinks teo won even the entire Lopez team think and know he lost. After the fight teo was asking if he still had it.
I agree. Martin backpedaled most of the fight and Lopez was the aggressor. Teo did NOT look good but Martin did very little.
Lopez did take the lead many times in the fight, but I felt it was rather wreck less and ineffective leading. Guess that’s the fun of it for everyone to see things differently.
I agree. I thought Lopez aggression and straight right to the body offset the slicker boxing. Martin just was not busy enough, though I did think that was a knockdown in the 7th.
Lopez has a tremendous amount of flaws in his style and I believe he can improve them and be much better but he needs to dump his dad! Dad is the problem, he took him as far as he could have taken him as a matter of fact I think it has been Teo’s talent and not his coach that has gotten him this far. I hope he reads this and he reflects and makes the best decision for his career and that would be to dump his dad as his coach!
Lopez is what all of us aficionados refer to as a hype job. His claim to fame was getting a close decision over an injured one armed Lomachenko who was already passed his prime. Teo has done nothing since and never will again. He will get brutally KO’d if he fights Prograis. If Martin wasn’t butted in the 1st he would’ve beaten hype boy.
Yeah, that’s sort of my thought. It’s really hard to fight through a badly broken nose, and it happened so early in the fight that it had a big impact. I never saw the ref even acknowledge that it was a headbutt. The same ref decided not to score a clear knockdown. While the styles are completely different, Lopez reminds me of an Adrien Broner type of guy who is a big name but just waiting to get beat by a legit superstar.
For a man who runs his mouth like he’s the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson, he certainly disappointed in this fight. Unimpressive. He didn’t deserve this win. It’s looking as if loudmouth Lopez is overrated after all. I’d like to see he and Ryan Garcia mix it up.
LOL Ryan Garcia and Lopez are too busy calling out 135-pounders even though they’re both 140. They’ll never fight each other.
Easy work for Teo. I gave 9 of the 12 rounds. You can’t run all night and expect to win rounds, even if you are landing more. Ring generalship! I’ll like tee Teo move up 2-3 weight divisions immediately. He’s ready.
You can’t run all night and win rounds, even if you are landing more???
Weird. Pretty sure that’s how Mayweather won almost all of his fights.
How did you give Lopez 9 of 12 rounds when it was only a 10 round fight! “Easy work” huh?
It was only a 10 round fight. Numbnuts
It was a 10 round fight Mr District Attorney or is that not what the D.A. stands for after your name……
Close fight, but Martin’s crappy negative style lost him the fight. Teo didn’t do much, didn’t cut off the ring and his tactics weren’t great, but Martin left it in the hands of the judges. Very little activity. Teo pressed the action and Martin lost the last round and celebrated prematurely. Lopez has no idea how to fight coming forward. It’s as simple as marching forward with your hands up and trapping your foe on the ropes. Typical fighter who fell in love with power and abandoned simple fundamentals. That simple adjustment will turn him into an effective aggressor. He lucky to win this fight. He looked like shit
Spot on KP. The rounds Martin won were clear cut, but there were several rounds that were weird to score. Teo is a mess, he wants to be Mr. KO, but his power doesn’t seem to have followed him. Nor is he setting up his punches. Another trainer might be needed, or at the very least a new voice.
Robbery. Incompetent Judges.
Yes, this took place in NYC. Home of The Robberies.
A split decision likely means Lopez lost.
Teo only could win this one or rob this one, another loss was not an option. Its all promoters bullshit. Shame.
Temo handed a gift, results like this make me sick.
Marting the true winner.
No, martin did not win that fight. It was close, but sorry all you guys talking robbery. Martin is an excellent boxer, but Lopez had much more significant punches. There was no second knockdown, the ref called it right. Remember he does not have the benefit of replay which showed a punch land, but it looked as though he pushed him. I don’t like Lopez. I think he is over hyped. The sport is called boxing, but I just don’t think Martin did enough for the win. I think Lopez eked out the win, but I could see a draw too.
Lopez was fighting in front of his home town crowd. Their lack of cheering throughout the fight was a clear indication that they knew their man was not winning the fight. He needs a trainer in his corner that can offer him strategic advice during a fight and not a cheerleader like his dad who is useless when it counts.
Lopez is highly over rated. Just all talk and excuses.
Someone got robbed in NYC last night. Gee, what a shock?
2022 Robbery of The Year. Sandor Martin clearly won this fight.
I honestly don’t know who the bigger punk was yesterday. Josh Warrington or Teofimo Lopez. They both need to grow up and take responsibility.
Neither guy looked good..Martin didn’t deserve the win..Lopez is a c-b level fighter ..1 trick pony..club fighter With speed power …no knowledge of how to break down a fighter.
lopez clearly lost the fight sandor martin just a better fighter good footwork and countered everything lopez tried plus lopez got knocked down twice but only got credit for the ist knockdown i think lopez would get beat by any top tier jr welterweight this could be the worst decision for the year in boxing shame on the judges
Watched the fight from start to finish, no way Lopez won add that the ref missed a legit 2nd knock down by Martin, the horrible judging that gave Lopez the decision to Lopez should be fired. I would have scored this fight at best 6 rounds to 4 in favor of Martin then throw in the knock down with a score of 96-93 which should have had 2 knock downs that would have made the score even wider.
– Boring fight.
– Went to bed early.
Martin knocked down Lopez in round 7. The referee waved it off. It was a legitimate knockdown and may have affected the scoring.
Teo not the fighter we think he is at this weight.
Lopez won because all Martin did all night was run, he did not make the fight, and he also got mugged ,his face and nose looked like it went through a MEAT GRINDER. Lopez needs to get back to work, and find some other moves.One other point, it’s a DAMN SHAME Boots Ennis was not on the show last night.
Martin has good defense and could frustrate many top contenders, however, he did not box to win, if he would have thrown twenty more punches a round he could’ve pulled out the decision, I had it 7-3 Teo, wasn’t pretty but he got the job done buy just landing constant right hands to the body as Martin kept back paddling.
Martin did not do enough to win, he was constantly being hit with right hands to the body while back paddling, however, he did give Teo fits, I had it 96-93 Teo.
He is no more invincible! That time was really a short one !
Lopez can’t expect boxers like Martin to stand and fight his fight. Go back to Tunney-Dempsey. He needs to adjust and be smarter. Less emotional. Maybe study guys like Leonard.
We all know that the foreign fighter rarely wins in UK. Stop! Wait at minute . . . . 🙂
Martin won that fight
why does this keep happening ? martin won!!!
Looked like some home cooking
I thought Lopez won the fight. It was close, but Teo was forcing the fight and actually landed more of the punches over the 10 round distance. Lopez lunged frequently leaving him off balance and vulnerable to counters. Martin had numerous opportunities to counter and let his hands go but was more interested in moving away and throwing a counter shot on occasion.
It’s Martin’s style to wait and counter but if he really wanted to win, he should have thrown more punches and taken full advantage of a lunging Lopez. Lopez was the aggressor all night and landed solid punches to the body and head. He also missed a lot but he was throwing the shots. I just can’t give Martin credit for being slick, moving all night, but not letting his hands go.