One of the most anticipated boxing cards of the year is on the horizon. The May 2 “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves” event, which is headlined by a matchup between Ryan Garcia and Rolando “Rolly” Romero, also features two other fights. In the co-main event, Devin Haney faces Jose Carlos Ramirez. Meanwhile, in the fight card opener, Teofimo Lopez puts his WBO light welterweight title on the line against Arnold Barboza Jr.. We look at the opening betting odds and line movement for the Lopez vs. Barboza scrap.

Teofimo Lopez (21-1 with 13 KOs) is riding a five-fight winning streak since he lost the WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight belts to George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021.

Lopez captured the WBO light welterweight crown in June 2023 with a decision win over Josh Taylor. He has defended the belt twice, beating Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett on points.

Barboza (32-0 with 11 KOs) won the vacant interim WBO light welterweight belt in February with a split decision win over Jack Catterall. The victory was Barboza’s eighth decision in in nine outings dating back to August 2020.

ESPN has Lopez ranked at No. 1 in the 140-pound division, while Barboza checks in at No. 3 in those rankings. The man between them at No. 2 is Devin Haney, who also competes on the May 2 fight card against the unranked Jose Ramirez.

Lopez has not fought since June 2024, while Barboza has two fights since November 2024, most recently competing in February.

The opening betting odds for this matchup saw, Lopez open as the -300 favorite over Barboza, who was initially listed as the +180 betting underdog. Those lines have shifted slightly in favor of the challenger. Today, Lopez is -280, while Barboza checks in at +180.

Ryan Garcia Vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero Opening Odds

“It’s a good matchup, good fight, fire with bigger fire,” Lopez told The Ring. “But I’m just here to flow wit’ it, to be water at the same time, and kinda steam it up. But, you know, the real job is May 2nd. That’s really what my whole purpose of this is. … I’m just excited, thankful and ready to kick ass May 2nd.”

“Top Rank didn’t protect me from him,” Lopez said of charges that he had been “protected" by the promoter. “It’s just I was calling the shots in Top Rank’s office. It’s not protecting. It didn’t make sense at that point. Who is he? I mean, after 32 professional fights you just get your first interim world title? My 15th pro fight, I had my first world title.

“It’s a big difference. You know what I’m saying? Half of all his fights, I’ve accomplished more. And I’m looking forward to doing more this year, especially with the phenomenal team I have alongside of me – [co-managers] Mike [Borao] and Keith Connolly – I think it’s gonna be great.”

“I haven’t seen his fight with Catterall,” Lopez said of Barboza’s most recent win. “I heard it was back and forth. It was a close fight. I could [not] care less. Now he’s gonna find out why things happen the way they do, and why people actually end up trying to run away from me when they feel my punches. But nevertheless, can’t rely on that. Gotta rely on my skills.”

“I think things progressed that way, just the way the boxing business is,” Lopez added. “I think Barboza has been asking somewhat for me, so I think it was just gonna line up that way eventually, with the WBO and having him as my mandatory. So, it’s business. I’m sure they have hopes of Barboza possibly beating me and becoming the new face of the 140 division.”

“I haven’t even heard these comments until now, but my response is, ‘Look at my last three fights versus his last three, and who’s fought the better opposition?’” Barboza asked after being told that Lopez said he was not concerned with his upcoming opponent.

“The fights I’ve taken are supposed to be close, as I’m fighting three of the top five guys in my division within just over a five-month period,” Barboza said. “That’s an old-school mentality. You can argue Ramirez is in the top five. Catterall was top two or three. And Teofimo is No. 1. I went over there [to fight England’s Catterall in Manchester], in hostile territory, something Teo hasn’t done.

“He hasn’t gone into someone’s backyard with 15,000 people booing him. I had to travel 18 hours to Saudi [to fight Ramirez]. [Lopez] hasn’t been through this. I have. I literally have earned this the hard way. He hasn’t done that. So he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Our fight has the highest stakes, fighting for a belt and for bad blood,” Barboza added. “I’m expecting the best Teofimo there’s ever been because I know he knows he’s in for a fight. I don’t want any excuses. We’re ready. To me, this is the fight, like [Juan Manuel] Marquez in that fourth fight against [Manny] Pacquiao – I can’t see past him at all.”

We will have more on the upcoming Lopez vs. Barboza fight, including updated betting odds, and picks and predictions, as fight night nears.