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Joey Gamache believes the handlers of former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez need to employ more tact as it relates to the latter’s career.
The 24-year-old Lopez suffered a major upset last November, when he dropped a decision to Aussie underdog George Kambosos Jr. at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Gamache, a former two-weight world champion, worked as an assistant trainer for Lopez for two training camps but was not involved in the one going into the Kambosos fight. Gamache was in the corner for Lopez’s knockout of Richard Commey in 2019 and Lopez’s title-winning effort over then unified titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020.
Gamache believes weight was the biggest culprit behind Lopez’s career-changing mishap. The Maine native said all the tell-tale signs were there a while ago indicating that Lopez needed to move up. Lopez reportedly suffered a life-threatening condition after the Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) bout which may have been exacerbated because of his drastic weight cut.
“It was disappointing,” Gamache told Boxing Social. “Just the fact that here’s a guy that’s a big lightweight but belongs at junior welterweight but that wasn’t figured out to move him up to the next step.
“He probably felt that Kambosos was there to beat and it was a lot of money on the table, why not take advantage of being unified champion. But I think when you look back at that it was a mistake because the move should have been is to move him up.”
Gamache, who trains Swedish heavyweight contender Otto Wallin, believes Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs) can bounce back but that it would behoove his team to take a more measured approach. Lopez and his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc., have said that Lopez will fight at 140 pounds moving forward. There have been reports that Lopez could face undefeated veteran Arnold Barboza Jr. (26-0, 10 KOs) for his inaugural junior welterweight bout.
“It was unfortunate that he lost the fight,” Gamache said. “He was champion when the titles could’ve been given up. I’m sure he’ll come back strong and do well.
“They’ve got to maneuver him a little more now. Can’t just throw him in the deep end. He’s gotta come back from that loss.”
Gamache also revealed why he did not return to the Lopez camp going into the Kambosos fight. According to Gamache, the fact that Top Rank lost the rights to promote that bout at the purse bid meant that Lopez would not be receiving a training advance from his promoter. Lopez claimed leading into the Kambosos fight that he had spent an exorbitant amount of money on his training camp.
“There were a few things there,” Gamache said. “Financially speaking, they weren’t working with Top Rank at the time. They got outbid by Eddie Hearn and Triller, so that changed some of the dynamics there [concerning] expenses/. There wasn’t money to be covered by Top Rank. They usually cover it, but they figured, ‘hey we’re not promoting it, we’re not going to cover that.’”
Gamache, though, has no ill feelings toward his former team.
“I would have liked to have been in the camp and have seen him win,” Gamache said. “But this is boxing, this is how things happen. Sometimes big parts are overlooked and it’s difficult.”
“That’s boxing,” Gamache continued. “You’re on top one minute and the next minute you can be in another place. but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a problem with them. I wish them nothing but the next. What will be will be.”