Rising light heavyweight star Najee Lopez is ready for a breakout 2023, as he looks to leave his mark on the light heavyweight division.

Lopez has moved down in weight since his last outing, taking time out to focus on cutting weight in a correct manner from a strength and skill set standpoint.

'Chino' who is now 5-0, 5 KOs, discussed his approach to boxing.

“I watch everything, not just the fighter I am fighting, but people I will fight in five years,” said Lopez. 

“I feel like that is what separates at the highest level of the sport. Great fighters do the little things that the others won’t. That is why I am different.

"I feel like I'm going to be even stronger and even more explosive moving down from cruiserweight, I have great backing at ProBox TV, and I'm looking to show off my skills on that platform starting hopefully in February."

Lopez was a heralded amateur prior to turning professional, facing off against boxing's elite prospects such as Jared Anderson. The Atlanta native, opened up about his amateur experience prior to turning professional.

“I am not sure if you know the history of the Last Chance Qualifiers [which took place in Oxnard, California],” said Lopez about his run to the Olympic Trials in 2019. “I had lost to a fighter I knew I was better than in the eastern qualifiers, and made it a mission to win the tournament. I got three stoppages and dominated the finals match to a 5-0 decision. I made a statement.

“I want to not just be the next great Puerto Rican fighter, but simply the next great fighter of this era. My goal is to stay as active as possible in 2023 on ProBox TV, and emerge as a force in my weight class in 2023."