chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
I agree with you for most of this, but I'd argue it's not just when an opponent comes forward specifically that you beat Lopez, but when you take Lopez confidence away that he falls apart. He loses that confidence when you get your game going, whether thats through moving forward, getting the jab or counter going, shytting on him in the press conferences, negating his capacity to look good boxing etc, whatever way you take it.
Take the Taylor fight for example, Taylor came forward the entire fight, but Lopez danced on him because he started so nice with the counters and had his eye in, his best pro performance by far. It was Lopez mentality going into that fight, he looked great because he felt he had nothing to lose, which removed his built up preconceptions of what confidence is in fighting (lost his kid, his wife, his belts, was doing drugs, hated boxing etc). He just boxed like he enjoys boxing and it worked.
The Sandor Martin fight for example, Martin boxed backwards a lot in that fight, he just didn't have the style that judges appreciate these days. But he made Lopez feel like shyt with this awkward style and scoring off the counter.
When Lopez can get his game going, or bully the opponent (see first half of Lomachenko fight), he grows as a fighter, your archetype confidence fighter. Can beat him before it begins if you get it right.
Goddamn that was so uncomfortably awkward at the end there.
