Teofimo Lopez shuts up naysayers and oddsmakers, defeats Josh Taylor

Back up the brash talk, or look like a fool, and take a beating.

Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez had done a lot of yacking in the weeks leading up to their championship fight. Lopez was worse. (he apologized after the fight) 

So, who ate crow?

Taylor.

Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) found himself after a few rounds against the previously undefeated 

Taylor.

He dominated the second half of the bout, using an edge in speed and accuracy, to capture the WBO and Ring junior lightweight title by a unanimous decision in front of a sold-out Theater at Madison Square Garden. 

Scores were 115-113, 115-113, and 117-111. 

“I’m so thankful right now,” said Lopez. “Josh Taylor is a tough fighter, but I outsmarted and countered him.”

Maxboxing saw Lopez winning by a 117-111 tally. 

In round one, southpaw Taylor jabbed. Lopez fired a right that was blocked. Taylor scored with a couple of lefts. Lopez landed a body shot and right.

Lopez went back to his corner, bleeding from an abrasion near his left eye. Lopez forced the action in round two. Taylor stepped inside with a right. Lopez connected with a heavy left. Taylor went to the body. The Scotsman landed a right. 

Taylor (19 -1,13 KOs) came out punching in round three. Lopez connected with a combination. He also landed a right. Taylor scored with a couple of lefts. Both fighters landed blows at the bell. Taylor clipped Lopez with two rights in round four. Lopez went to the belly. Lopez landed a cuffing right. Taylor clipped Lopez with a combo. 

In round five, Taylor feinted and fired rights. Lopez, using his quickness, boxed and landed an uppercut. Taylor landed a couple of rights. Lopez scored with a right. Taylor, fighting from an orthodox stance, fired, Lopez countered.

Taylor started round six busy. He scored with a left. Lopez went to the body. Lopez, the former undisputed lightweight titleholder, clipped Taylor with a left and right. Taylor landed a right. Lopez opened up in the last few seconds of the round. The momentum was changing.

Maxboxing had Lopez with a slight edge through six rounds. He was landing more consistently. Growing into his confidence. Lopez scored with a right. Taylor backed up. He fought back. Lopez landed another right to the chin. His confidence was ebbing. Taylor landed a left in round eight. Lopez connected with his dangerous right. Taylor moved to his right. Lopez scored with an uppercut. Lopez landed a lunging left. 

Lopez, in control, bounced and fired. He landed a right. Lopez connected with two more rights. Taylor looked hurt. He tried to come back, but Lopez connected with more substantial right hands. 

Taylor tried to jab, but Lopez stepped in with  another right to the heart. Taylor scored with a left. The left from Taylor didn’t bother Lopez. 

With two rounds to go, Lopez,25, was in complete control. Taylor needed to land a game-changing blow. He fired punches. Lopez countered. And did it again seconds later.

Taylor,32, looked bothered. Lopez rallied in the last seconds to win the round. Taylor upped the ante in the 12^th and final round. Lopez blocked the blows. He landed a hard right to the chin. Taylor wobbled. A Lopez right landed on the ear. A big uppercut scored.

The fight was his.