Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez | Sky Sports - 10 June 2023

[keithmoonhangover]

I don't care for the Cattaral rematch, although he deserves one. I'd really enjoy Taylor-Lopez.

[Roars Like Me]

Yeah looking forward to this one...it will interesting to see if the Catteral fight was showing that Josh has simply just lost a step....Teo definitely has, downhill since the Loma fight...by my 'logic' it should be an open affair.

[ashall2]

Lopez is gone in the head these days. His dad doesn’t help. Puts out some depressive stuff on social media then quickly deletes it.

Taylor of a few years ago would have won this easily but he’s inactive and struggles making the weight these days. Hasn’t come across a full shilling since the Catterall stuff either so who knows what effect that will have.

Genuine 50/50.

[Glass Joe]

I don't care for the Cattaral rematch, although he deserves one. I'd really enjoy Taylor-Lopez.

feel the same way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fighting Teofimo Lopez creates a better opportunity for Josh Taylor, but can he beat him?

There has been a significant shift in the schedule and plans for once-undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor. After progress in negotiations and multiple announcements for a fight against Jack Catterall, Taylor will now fight the once-unified lightweight champion and top star in the sport, Teofimo Lopez. The bout, which will take place at New York's Madison Square Garden on June 10 (ESPN/ESPN+), will be for Taylor's junior welterweight title.

But was this the right choice for the duo? An opportunity to box at Madison Square Garden might have been influential in Taylor's decision, as this will be a high-profile bout between two former undisputed world champions.

ESPN looks at some of the key issues around the matchup between two fighters looking to regain and retain their positions among the world's top 10 pound-for-pound fighters.

Does this fight against Lopez provide more opportunity for Taylor?

Yes, beyond dispute. A fight against Lopez, the former unified lightweight world champion, is a bigger fight internationally than a rematch against Catterall, who before last year's fight with Taylor was relatively unknown.

Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs), 25, based in Las Vegas but born in Brooklyn, New York, is also a bigger challenge for Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs), 32, with more to be gained from it if he wins.

Catterall surprised a lot of people with his brilliant display against Taylor a year ago in his first world title fight, a controversial split decision loss. But Lopez is more widely known than Catterall and brings interest to the fight from beyond the UK. Taylor-Catterall II is an all-British matchup and does not have the same broad appeal.

Also, from Taylor's point of view, his rivalry with Catterall is not going away, it's something that he can pick up (if he wants to) later this year, win or lose against Lopez.

A rematch with Catterall is great (and let's hope we see it), but Taylor stands more to earn and more to gain from fighting Lopez next. The credibility he would earn if he wins, and the larger purse, proved too convincing an argument for Taylor to turn down. The gate revenue in New York will exceed that generated by a rematch against Catterall in Glasgow.

Also, the WBO conveniently made Lopez the mandatory challenger after Taylor-Catterall II was postponed because of Taylor's injury (a torn plantar fascia tendon) in February.

"If I went and fought Jack, I'd be fighting him with no titles and I want to keep the title," Taylor said. "It's out of my control and it's not my fault the WBO got in touch."

Lopez looked vulnerable at times in fights against George Kambosos Jr. and Sandor Martin -- another reason Taylor took the fight.

What is the significance of boxing at MSG and in New York for Taylor?

Huge, and it will be a driving inspiration for the Scottish boxer.

Scottish boxing legend Ken Buchanan, from Edinburgh like Taylor, was top of the bill at MSG five times in the 1970s, winning four and losing one. In December 1970, Muhammad Ali was on the same bill as Buchanan at MSG.

After making a successful lightweight title defense against Ismael Laguna in that venue in 1971, Buchanan lost his belt a year later to Roberto Duran, who threw a low blow in the 13th round, but the Scottish fighter had two more wins at MSG.

The chance to emulate his hero Buchanan will not have been lost on Taylor.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[ashall2]

This will be announced tomorrow I believe.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez is set for June 10 in New York, as expected, with the announcement made official tonight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hulu Theatre

[emallini]

Great fight

[gregregegg]

Josh Taylor got an absolute gift of a decision, then took a casual 16 months off and dropped 3 belts....

He probably would of been better off to lose that fight, he has had a shocker.

[tigermoth87]

Like Tyson Fanny. Taylor has become a joke of a fighter because he's ducking Cat. Who beat him.

Only a mong would score that for Taylor

[margaret thatcher]

really good fight. yes i feel bad for catt and think he should get a rematch and dislike how taylor's been acting

but this should be a lively one, in the build up as well

[Spud]

Josh for whatever reasons has not fought anywhere near enough.

I see Lopez winning this one clearly
On points.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Will be on Sky Sports.

[Spud]

Will be on Sky Sports.

Excellent

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Glass Joe]

one for the taking massive poos thread

[Ruthless-RKO]

one for the taking massive poos thread

Side view

[ashall2]

Can’t wait for this.

So many variables - Lopez’s post-Loma decline, Taylor’s injury and weight etc. With both fully fit I think Taylor wins.

Build up should be fun. Watched the ‘face off’ last night and whilst there was lots of trash talk it’s all tongue in cheek and you can tell they respect each other.

[Dioufy]

Would love Teo to end this brutally and early tbh.

[skanksta]

Can’t wait for this.

So many variables - Lopez’s post-Loma decline, Taylor’s injury and weight etc. With both fully fit I think Taylor wins
.
Build up should be fun. Watched the ‘face off’ last night and whilst there was lots of trash talk it’s all tongue in cheek and you can tell they respect each other.

Yeah.
The Taylor that beat Prograis annihlates Teo.
The pre-Kambo Teo annihilates the Taylor that lost to Catt.
Great fight

[Grilling Machine]

one for the taking massive poos thread

Side view

Teo's looks the more advanced labour.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 12 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com

Undefeated junior welterweight king Josh Taylor will defend his WBO and Ring Magazine titles against former lightweight kingpin Teofimo Lopez Saturday, June 10 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Taylor-Lopez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 12 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

“This is a super fight on both sides of the pond, the junior welterweight king in Josh Taylor stepping up against the young, dynamic Teofimo Lopez,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “I cannot wait for these two supreme talents to step into the Madison Square Garden ring. It’s going to be a special night.”

Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs), “The Tartan Tornado,” is the former undisputed junior welterweight champion, having collected all four major titles in a remarkable four-fight run that included wins over Ivan Baranchyk, Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez. He debuted in the paid ranks in 2015 and captured a Commonwealth title in his second year before defeating fellow unbeaten prospect Ohara Davies via seventh-round TKO. The 32-year-old then beat former world champions Miguel Vazquez and Viktor Postol before entering the World Boxing Super Series in 2018. Taylor stopped then-undefeated contender Ryan Martin via TKO before capturing his first world title with a decision victory over Baranchyk. His wins over Prograis and Ramirez left no doubt as to the world’s supreme 140-pound practitioner. Taylor returns more than one year after his last performance, a competitive split decision nod over Jack Catterall.

Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) is the former unified and lineal lightweight champion of the world. In December 2019, he captured the IBF title with an explosive second-round knockout of Richard Commey. The following October, he bested pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to win the WBA, WBO, and WBC Franchise titles. Thirteen months later, he lost the belts via shocking split decision to George Kambosos Jr. The 25-year-old then made his junior welterweight debut in August 2022 by stopping Pedro Campa in the seventh round. Last December, Lopez edged Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin by split decision. Before becoming world champion, he was the buzz of the boxing world with highlight-reel knockouts over Diego Magdaleno and Mason Menard. Lopez now has his sights set on another southpaw and hopes to become the sport’s latest two-division ruler.

[cormack]

Will be on Sky Sports.

Hopefully at a respectable time of the evening rather than daft oclock in the morning .