Josh Taylor says he is not ruling out a future showdown with Teofimo Lopez, but believes the American has more to achieve at Lightweight before meeting him.
Unified WBA and IBF Super Lightweight champion, Taylor is awaiting confirmation on a clash with unified WBC and WBO titlist, Jose Ramirez for the undisputed crown.
Lopez, who holds the WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO and WBC ‘Franchise’ titles at 135lbs has backed the Scot to defeat his compatriot and is hopeful of landing himself a fight in the UK against Taylor.
However, Taylor believes Lopez has more to do at his current weight and is fully confident he would overcome the unbeaten American, if the pair were to ever meet.
“It’s another fight that can happen, I’m not ruling it out,” Taylor told Pro Boxing Fans.
“But, I think he needs to defend his titles, forget about me for the minute.
“There’s a lot of good fights at Lightweight there that he can prove that he is the best, completely secure his legacy at Lightweight.
“So, yeah again, that’s another one that if he comes up I believe I’ll beat him as well, I do believe I can beat him as well.
“It’s funny how his ego’s just exploded now, but I’d like to take him down, I’d like to cut him down to size.”
Taylor knocked out IBF mandatory challenger, Apinun Khongosong inside a round in September, whilst Ramirez edged past Viktor Postol in Las Vegas in August.
The 30-year-old believes he is “better in every department” and will stop his rival when they meet.
“He’s a very good fighter, you’re no unified world champion for no reason,” Taylor added.
“He’s tough, he comes forward, he puts the pressure on, front foot fighter, he mixes the combinations well, he’s a good body puncher, there’s a lot of praise to be said about him.
“But, I just believe that I’m better than him. I’m better than him in every department, I punch just as hard as him, I’m stronger than him, I’ve definitely got the better boxing IQ and the boxing brain, I’m more intelligent than him, I’ve got more to my game.
“I do believe he fights one way and it’s the only way he fights, so we’ll see what happens on the fight night, but I just believe I can out fight him, I can outbox him and I can out punch him, I just believe it’s my fight to lose.
“It’ll be a good fight while it lasts, I do believe that I’m going to knock him out. I do believe I’m going to walk him onto a shot if not outgun him and walk him onto a shot as well.
“It’ll definitely be a great fight while it lasts, it’ll be fully action, 100%, because he comes to fight, leaves it all in the ring, I certainly come to fight as well.
“There’s not going to be any running, there’s not going to be any trying to steal the fight, it’s going to be fire with fire and I believe I’ve got the bigger guns.”