Teofimo Lopez (8-0, 6 KOs) peered across a blue canvas to Juan Pablo Sanchez (30-15, 14 KOs), a veteran of over 40 professional bouts who thought he had seen it all.
But no one in attendance had ever seen what Lopez was about to do.
In Round 5, Lopez stalked his man. Sanchez was noticeably slower. Lopez flicked his left leg, similar to what checking a leg kick looks like in mixed martial arts. The unorthodox feint befuddled Sanchez, leaving him open to a pummeling on the ropes.
There are those in boxing who call Lopez the best young talent in the game. Yahoo! Sports named him the Prospect of the Year 2017. He showed off his entire toolbox in Texas.
He followed a big smirk in the opening round with a quick jab. Sanchez was flustered from quick successions of right and left hooks.
Lopez, 20, parried most of what Sanchez tossed his way in Rounds 2 and 3 and wobbled the Mexican with two left hooks in the fifth stanza.
A big right hand fell on top of temple of Sanchez in the sixth round that left the veteran shaking his head.
The official scores were announced and Lopez was the easy winner. But the young man was not done.
He took the center of the ring again and performed a back flip.
As talented and young as anyone in the game, Lopez has plenty of time to turn the entire sport on its head too.
All photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
