Teofimo Lopez continues on the comeback trail when he takes on Sandor Martin at Madison Square Garden this wekeend.
The Takeover lost his WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles in defeat to George Kambosos Jr last year, but the American has made the step up to super-lightweight as he bids to get his career back on track.
Martin is tough and an experienced former European champion, but his To Win Fight odds of 4/1 suggest that it will be a difficult job for the Barcelona banger to upset Lopez.
The Takeover is 1/6 in the To Win Fight market in his second 140lbs assignment, and should the New York man come through against Martin, there’s potential for a clash with either Josh Taylor or Jack Catterall further down the line.
What: Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
When: 04:00, Sunday, December 11, 2022
How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena
Odds: 1/6 Lopez, 4/1 Martin, 18/1 draw
When is Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
The fight will take place in the early hours of Sunday, December 11, 2022.
What time is Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
The main card is expected to kick off at 2am. Exact times will depend on the duration of the previous undercard bouts but the ringwalks are likely to be around 4am.
Where is Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
The contest will take place at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden. The historic venue has played host to no end of big-fight nights and many of the sport's most memorable moments have taken place at the Manhattan setting.
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Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier got it on twice at the Garden, while British hero Joe Calzaghe scored a unanimous-decision victory over Roy Jones at the same venue.
Andy Ruiz shocked Anthony Joshua in a memorable heavyweight clash at Madison Square Garden in 2019, while Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano broke new ground in New York more recently.
Can I watch Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
Lopez v Martin will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event & Arena in the UK. The fight will be broadcast on ESPN in the US.
Who is the favourite for Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
Lopez is the 1/6 favourtie, with Martin rated a 4/1 shot and the draw available at 18/1. The Takeover is 4/5 to win on points and 7/4 for a stoppage victory.
European champion Martin is 6/1 to get the judges' decision and 16/1 to knockout Lopez. The fight is 4/9 to go the distance and 13/8 to end before the final bell.
Are there any belts on the line for Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
Lopez is a former WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight world champion and Martin has previously held the European super-lightweight crown. The Takeover will be looking for a crack at 140lbs and this bout serves as an WBC eliminator. The WBO International super-lightweight title is up for grabs.
What is Teofimo Lopez's record?
After fantastic victories over Richard Commey and Vasyl Lomachenko, Lopez looked to be a young fighter capable of dominating the lightweight division.
The Takeover claimed the WBA, IBF and WBO titles and the New Yorker had recorded 16 straight victories, with 13 of those coming by stoppage. However, the 25-year-old was beaten by Kambosos Jr last year and that rather stopped the American in his tracks.
Lopez has stepped up to the 140lbs division in order to keep his career moving and he does remain a fighter with huge potential. Pedro Campa was no match for the 25-year-old last time out and that suggest that Lopez can be a force in a new division.
What is Sandor Martin's record?
Martin, 29, has already racked up 42 career fights. The Spaniard is a former European super-lightweight champion and there are good wins over Ignacio Mendoza, Valentyn Golovko and Jo Hughes on the southpaws card.
Martin has two defeats on his record, but he took his career to a new high when beating the top-level Mikey Garcia last year. That was an extremely impressive victory for the Spaniard and it indicates that he could be competitive against Lopez.
Who is on the undercard for Teofimo Lopez v Sandor Martin?
Heavyweights Jared Anderson and Jerry Forrest clash, while there’s a super-welterweight contest between Xander Zayas and Alexis Salazar before the main event.
