Updated:
Mar 20, 2023 4:03 pm
Teofimo Lopez is planning to fight Josh Taylor for the WBO Super Lightweight title on June 10th, according to talkSPORT correspondent, Michael Benson.
Lopez last fought in December 2022 against Sandor Martin at Madison Square Garden, New York and won a controversial split decision. ‘The Takeover’ is now on a two-fight winning streak after suffering an upset defeat to George Kambosos Jr in 2021 and losing his status as undisputed lightweight champion.
Meanwhile, Taylor has been out of the ring for over a year following a highly contentious points decision against Jack Catterall in February 2022 and then suffering a torn plantar fascia injury.
Regardless, Lopez and Taylor have flirted with the proposition of facing each other in the past and there are strong signs the bout will happen this year.
“Looking at becoming a two-time undisputed world champion, looking for more history, breaking more records, doing things that people haven’t seen in the sport. So this year I look at coming back in either April or May for a world title”, Lopez said in an interview with The Schmo Youtube channel around one month ago.
Before experiencing the first loss of his professional career against Kambosos Jr, Teofimo Lopez was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world. The Brooklyn native famously outpointed Vasyl Lomachenko in October 2020, capturing the WBA (Super) and WBO titles in the process.
However, Lopez has recently moved up to the 140 lbs division and it remains to be seen if he can replicate the same level of success he had at 135 lbs.
‘The Takeover’ seems more determined than ever though as he sent the following message to his fans on social media.
“There’s comes a point in time in everyone’s journey where God, Jesus himself, will throw away all the snakes, cut the grass, and remind you who was here with you all along. That’s why we hold it down. Ain’t nobody else around. It’s just me and pops, like we always been. I don’t need a group, f*** a groupie. I don’t need an entourage, f*** an entourage. I’m the entourage!
“What we look like? Trying to claim what we earned. Who is you? We the one. We was born as the one. So what I’m saying is, don’t forget who got you there. Never forget where you came from youngens.”
Josh Taylor on fighting Teofimo Lopez
Josh Taylor has previously expressed his interest in sharing the ring with Teofimo Lopez and believes the bout could do enormous numbers, especially due to the online hype surrounding the contest.
“It’s a huge fight. He’s a big name. So there will be a lot of animosity in the build-up to the fight. Because I don’t think there’s any love lost between the two of us. Even though I’ve never met the guy, but just hear the things him and his dad have been saying. I think there will be a lot of tension in the build up to the fight”, Taylor said in an interview with ID Boxing.
Indeed, Taylor and Lopez are a similar position in their careers. Despite still being ranked in the top ten pound-for-pound rankings by Ring Magazine, the Scotsman was not impressive against Catterall and many believe he was fortunate to come away victorious.
Therefore, there is both much to gain and lose when Lopez and Taylor fight each other. The winner could get a shot at another world title in the division, which is held by the likes of Regis Prograis, Subriel Matis and Alberto Puello. On the other hand, the loser could be forced to enter another rebuilding phase in their career and take on lesser opposition.
