Arnold Barboza Jr. is coming in hot for his clash against The Ring and WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. on May 2 as part of the Ring Magazine card in Times Square, New York on DAZN PPV.

After sneaking away with a shaky performance and split decision win against slick southpaw Sean McComb last April, Barboza has turned up the dial to notch narrow decision wins against former unified 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez in November and against top contender Jack Catterall in February.

Barboza scored the interim WBO belt in the Catterall bout, which landed him the opportunity to fight Lopez.

“My confidence is through the roof right now – it's high as sh!t,” Barboza told The Ring in an interview. “My juices are flowing. I'm fighting the top three guys in the division in a six-month span. I'm excited.

“I feel like a prospect again fighting every other month. But I am staying busy with big fights and it's the worst time for him to fight me. He should have fought me when I was begging for the fight four years ago. I think he had a better chance. But I've found the recipe now, and the train is going and we're not stopping.”

Barboza (32-0, 11 KOs) and Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) have been linked to a fight ever since their days under the same promotional banner with Top Rank.

Barboza believes Lopez is dangerous despite the vitriol and trash talk, which climaxed during a heated exchange at a recent press conference when Lopez slapped his rival.

“You can never overlook someone like Teo,” said Barboza. “He's explosive. [His 11-month] inactivity doesn't matter. He's going to be surprised by me. I am in my prime. I am in top shape and focusing on getting even stronger. He wants to win. I need to win. He's hungry. But I am starving. That's a big difference.”

Barboza, a 33-year-old, 12-year veteran from El Monte, California, attributed his recent revival to training outside of the city and in the wilderness of Big Bear, California without any distractions.

He expects another close contest against Lopez.

“You're going to have close fights when you are facing the top guys in the division,” said Barboza. “That's the reality of it. I am going for the stoppage. If it comes, it comes. But I am going to stick to my game plan. All I know is that I am going to have my hand raised at the end of the night.”