Josh Taylor and Teo Lopez clash in NYC

Scottish champion Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez will tangle for Taylor’s WBO junior welterweight title on June 10 in New York at Madison Square Garden. Taylor, the former undisputed boss at junior welterweight, will go up against Lopez, the former king at 135. 

If the bout can match the fight week banter, this should be a beauty. Both fighters are outspoken and confident heading into the fight and the buzz should be off the charts come the first bell. 

The fight comes at an interesting time for both fighters who each have something to prove.

Taylor came off an impressive victory in May of 2021 capturing the undisputed junior welterweight title by beating champion Jose Ramirez. However, in his last outing, he faced a lot of criticism for a controversial split decision over Jack Catterall in his first title defense. Originally set for a rematch with Catterall, an injury derailed that fight and then the Lopez bout came up and Taylor jumped at it. 

Lopez, considered one of the best prospects in boxing on his way to the title ticked all the boxes when he defeated lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in October 2020. However, he was shockingly upset by rugged Australian George Kambosos in his first title defense. Since then, he has picked up 2 wins at 140 pounds but hasn’t been overly impressive in either one. 

Taylor, a huge star in his native Scotland, had no problem coming to New York for the fight and in pre-fight interviews has seemed confident that he will walk out of the world’s most famous arena with the win.

"Further on down the line, Jack (Catterall) and me can still fight," Taylor said. “This fight (vs. Lopez) is a much bigger fight than the Catterall fight, and it’s a harder fight. He is a much higher caliber of opponent. He has been at a higher level. He’s been in with better fighters. He’s done the business."

And, while he acknowledged that Lopez was indeed a good fighter, he was also very clear on how he felt the fight would go.

“It’s my fight and it ends with a win for me. I will knock him out and it won’t go past 6-8 rounds”, said Taylor. “It’s never personal, it’s business, it’s the fight game. But he’s been talking a lot about me and now he’s gonna get a doing. He’s a very good fighter, but I see a lot of holes in his game and I’m gonna expose him. At the end of the day I’m gonna beat him”.

All these comments did was draw a smirk and a quick reply from Lopez, who wouldn’t be described as lacking in the confidence department.

“Hey, the WBO title, 2 world titles on the line. I am looking forward to it. Let’s get it”, he said. “I’m looking forward to putting on a show. Put them in front of me and I’ll beat them. I want to best and I fight the best; I’m the best”, said Lopez