Josh Taylor Returns- Knows What Awaits With Teofimo Lopez

Coming up Saturday night in New York, WBO junior welterweight world champ Josh Taylor returns to the ring for the first time in over a year, when he takes on prominent contender and former 135 lb. world champ, Teofimo Lopez.

The fighters met with the media for the final time on Thursday night in advance of the Top Rank Boxing main event to be televised by ESPN from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The face-off that never was MIC’D UP 🔊

LISTEN IN | https://t.co/LRDItc9ojk pic.twitter.com/8H048jXK3I

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 9, 2023

As you can see above, the “face off” to help promote the title bout never happened, thus, ramping up some anticipation for hostilities in the ring. However, just before that Taylor made clear that he’s taking the Lopez that he saw beat Vasiliy Lomachenko in October 2020 seriously

“He means what he says, and I mean what I say. There is genuine dislike here. He’s been disrespectful. I’m going to make him pay for his words on Saturday. I can’t wait to get in there. You will see a Josh Taylor win, possibly by KO, and nice and early as well,’ the Scotsman said.

“I know he’s a good fighter. The version that beat Lomachenko is a very good fighter. That’s the version I’m preparing for. It’s all about your preparation. I’ve prepared diligently and to the best of my ability. You’ll see the best of me on Saturday night.”

Hear our insider Dan Rafael preview Taylor-Lopez with me off our “Big Fight Weekend Preview” podcast by clicking play below,

Taylor was last in the ring back in February 2022, when he defended all four (WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO) world titles at 140 lb. in what turned out to be a hotly contested and controversial 12 round decision to England’s Jack Catterall. Many believed that Taylor had blown his homecoming fight in Glasgow, Scotland and lost to Catterall before the split decision verdict was read.

The rematch with Catterral failed to happen due to injury, promotional changes for the challenger and eventually, the WBO mandating that Taylor fight Lopez.

Teofimo lost all of his lightweight belts to George Kambosos in November 2021 and has won two fights at junior welterweight since then to put himself in position for the the title shot Saturday.

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As for the champ, he ready for the stage/setting, saying Thursday,

“This is dream come true. You always dream of coming stateside and fighting in venues like this. This is the ‘Mecca of Boxing’, Madison Square Garden. I can’t wait to get in there to make this dream become a reality, and this clown here is in my way.” 

Now, the talking is all but over and two of the premier fighters at 140 lb. are ready to go.