Josh Taylor has a clear plan to deal with Teofimo Lopez’s disturbing remarks.
In the upcoming fight at Madison Square Garden, Taylor is prepared to defend his WBO junior welterweight title against Lopez. The boxing community is eagerly anticipating this significant bout, particularly due to Lopez’s controversial comments. Lopez publicly expressed his desire to harm Taylor in the ring, and even when faced with backlash, he stood by his words.
In a sport as dangerous as boxing, where lives are at stake, such audacious statements are alarming. Although Taylor claims not to be deeply affected by them, he intends to make Lopez regret his choice of words.
“I don’t personally know him, and I’m uncertain whether it’s all bravado or if he genuinely means what he says,” Taylor shared during an interview with The MMA Hour. “He seems to be all over the place, like a clown without direction—a lost soul. I have no personal feelings towards him; this is strictly business. However, I’ll step into the ring on Saturday with the intention of inflicting serious damage and pain. His words, especially those like ‘come and take my life,’ will not be taken lightly. I plan to punish him for it.”
At 32 years old, Taylor boasts an undefeated record and previously held the undisputed junior welterweight championship. However, he has been absent from the ring for over a year since his controversial split decision victory over Jack Catterall in February 2022. This decision, combined with his extended break, led to criticism from boxing fans who questioned Taylor’s standing in the 140-pound weight class.
Thus, on Saturday, Taylor aims to silence his critics.
“I wouldn’t say I have a chip on my shoulder. I just plan to deliver a strong performance on Saturday night and prove that I am the number one fighter,” Taylor explained. “I’ve had only one subpar performance in the past ten years, and suddenly I’m labeled as nothing, worthless, and past my prime. We’ll see on Saturday. Based on my training sessions and sparring, this guy won’t make it past six to eight rounds. It will be an early night if I perform in the ring as I have been in the gym. If not, then I won’t have any excuses because my training camp has been absolutely incredible. Mentally and physically, I am in the best shape of my life and my career. If I fail on Saturday, it will be solely my responsibility.”
Taylor does not appear overly fixated on regaining his undisputed status in the junior welterweight division if he succeeds. Instead, the Scottish fighter is open to a few high-profile matches within the weight class but ultimately intends to move up to the welterweight division and pursue a second championship title.
“While there are still significant fights at 140 pounds—rematches with Regis Prograis and Jack Catterall, potential matchups with Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta Davis—I also have personal aspirations to become a two-weight world champion,” Taylor revealed. “It’s only a matter of time before I make the leap to 147 pounds and embark on the journey to become a two-weight world champion.
“After this fight, I will assess my options and the offers that come my way. If the timing is right and it aligns with my goals, I will make a decision in consultation with my team. We’ll evaluate the opportunities on the table.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about boxing championship
What is the upcoming boxing match between Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez about?
The upcoming boxing match is a title defense fight for Josh Taylor’s WBO junior welterweight championship against Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden. It has garnered attention due to controversial statements made by Lopez, including a death threat against Taylor.
How does Josh Taylor plan to respond to Teofimo Lopez’s death threat?
Josh Taylor plans to make Teofimo Lopez pay for his words by inflicting serious damage and pain in the ring. While he doesn’t personally know Lopez and considers him a bit of a clown, he takes the death threat seriously and intends to punish Lopez for it.
What is Josh Taylor’s mindset going into this fight?
Josh Taylor aims to deliver a strong performance to prove that he is the number one fighter in the junior welterweight division. He acknowledges the criticism he faced after his controversial split decision victory and extended layoff, but he is confident in his training, mental and physical preparation, and anticipates a dominant performance against Lopez.
What are Josh Taylor’s future plans after this fight?
While there are still significant fights available at 140 pounds, including potential rematches with Regis Prograis and Jack Catterall, as well as matchups with Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta Davis, Josh Taylor has personal aspirations to become a two-weight world champion. He plans to move up to the welterweight division and pursue a second title, depending on the offers and opportunities that come his way after the fight.
More about boxing championship
- Josh Taylor
- Teofimo Lopez
- Madison Square Garden
- WBO
- Junior welterweight division
- Regis Prograis
- Jack Catterall
- Devin Haney
- Ryan Garcia
- Gervonta Davis
- Boxing News
