Boxing Challenge: Lopez returns with Campa KO

     Former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez returned to the ring for the first time since his surprising split decision defeat to George Kambosos as a junior welterweight and knocked out Pedro Campa in the seventh round.

Lopez fended off the perpetually aggressive Campa with aplomb throughout the match, winning every round and nearly closing the left eye of the rugged Mexican, who was fighting in the United States for only the second time.

Lopez knocked Campa down in the seventh with a right jab and overwhelmed Campa along the ropes with a series of right hands to force the referee to step in and end the evening.

I thought Lopez looked good, not great, and for all of his talents- Lopez will have to prove how much the Kambosos loss and various issues took away from him against a better caliber of fighter than Pedro Campa to know for sure.

Lopez invited Golden Boy Promotional head, Oscar De La Hoya, to the fight for a potential Ryan Garcia fight that should it be able to be put together would be a big fight, albeit not nearly as large as it would have been at this time last year.

Given Garcia's history of not being able to make fights and dropping out of fights that have been made, I'd be reluctant to say that I feel strongly that a Garcia-Lopez fight will be able to be signed soon but it would be an interesting fight with Lopez the better-rounded fighter while Garcia is the stronger puncher and with a larger frame that I think is a little better suited to the junior welterweight division.

Top Rank announced during the post-fight interview that Lopez will return to the ring in December on ESPN on Heisman night and while Garcia is an unlikely opponent, Top Rank possesses several contenders in the division that could be a challenge on the next leg of Lopez's comeback.

If I had to pick one of those, I'll guess on Arnold Barboza as a possible foe.

Barboza attended the fight, has called out Lopez in the past, and has fought on the network several times, so would give Lopez a recognizable name as an opponent.

I'd really like that fight and while I think I'd give Lopez a small advantage in a Barboza battle, it's a good enough fight that I wouldn't make Lopez a large favorite.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 143 Pts (2)

Ramon Malpica; 121 Pts (2)

Vince Samano: 116 Pts (1)