Massive Saturday For Split-T Management as Teofimo Lopez Takes over New York
NEW YORK (December 9, 2022) -Split-T Management fighters will dominate the boxing world on Saturday as former undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez takes on Sandor Martin in a WBC Elimination bout at Madison Square Garden. Earlier in the day, IBF Bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges makes the first defense of her title when she takes on Shannon O’Connell. If that wasn’t enough, 2020 United States Olympian Tiger Johnson will kick off the festivities at Madison Square Garden when he battles Mike Ohan Jr. in a eight-round junior middleweight bout.
Lopez will be looking to take big a step towards becoming a two-division world champion when he takes on the upset-specialist Martin. The bout will headline in what has become Lopez’ annual fight night at the Garden that follows the Heisman Trophy presentation on ESPN.
Lopez of Las Vegas by way of Brooklyn is 17-1 with 13 knockouts. The 25 year-old is one of the popular and charismatic pugilists in the sport. He has become a staple fighting at The Garden on Heisman night he stopped Mason Menard in the opening round in 2018, and In 2019, Lopez knocked out Richard Commey in two rounds to win the IBF Lightweight title.
On October 17, 2020, Lopez won a 12-round unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko to capture the undisputed Lightweight title. Lopez made his super lightweight debut on August 13th by stopping Pedro Camoa in seven rounds in Las Vegas.
Martin of Barcelona, Spain has a very impressive mark of 40-2 with 13 knockouts. Martin has impressive wins over Daniel Rosilla Colaso (25-4-2), Ignacio Mendoza (38-8-2), Sanuele Esposito (19-2), Steve Jamoye (19-1-1), Valentyn Golovko (22-1), Mauro Godoy (30-3-1), Joe Hughes (17-4-1) and Kay Prospere (14-1-1).
On October 16, 2021, Martin shocked former four-division world champion Mikey Garcia by winning a 10-round majority decision,
In his last bout, Martin won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Jose Felix on April 1st in Barcelona, Spain.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Lopez weighed 139.2 lbs. Martin was 139.8 lbs.
Lopez is promoted by Top Rank.
The fight can be seen live on ESPN at 9 PM ET.
In Leeds, England, Bridges and O’Connell meet in a fight between Australian bantamweights.
Bridges of New South Wales, Australia is 8-1 with three knockouts. The 36 year-old won the IBF Bantamweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Maria Cecilia Roman on March 26th in Leeds.
O’Connell, 39, of Queensland, Australia is 23-6-1 with 11 knockouts. She has wins over Nareele Leahy (1-0). Gabisile Tshabalala (8-0-1), Edina Kiss (10-1), Bianca Elmie (3-0), Kylie Fulmer (7-0), Cherneka Johnson (13-0), Taylah Robinson (3-0) and her last bout when she stropped Sarah Higginson in the opening round on June 29th in Queensland.
Bridges was 117.75 lbs, while O’Connell was 117.35 lbs at Friday’s weigh-in.
Bridges is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.
The fight is streamed by DAZN at 2 PM ET.
Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio is 6-0 with four knockouts. The 24 year-old Johnson will be making his sixth start of 2022. With wins of Xavier Madrid (3-0) and Esteban Garcia (15-3-1), Johnson has made himself one of the emerging prospects in the sport. Even though He continues to fight top competition
Saturday he takes on Ohan of Holbrook, Massachusetts. Ohan is 16-1 with nine knockouts. He has a signature win over undefeated Ryan Dibartolomeo. Ohan has won seven straight, which includes his last outing that took place on August 6th when he defeated Jonathan Ariel Sosa
Johnson weighed 141 lbs. Ohan was 141.6 lbs.
Johnson is promoted by Top Rank.
Lopez and Johnson photo credits by Mikey Williams / Top Rank (via Getty Images). Bridges photo credit by Mark Robinson
