Josh Taylor trashes Teofimo Lopez: “I take him to bits”

By Boxing News - 12/14/2022 - Comments

By Sam Volz: WBO light welterweight champion Josh Taylor says he’ll batter former unified lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez “to bits” when they meet in 2023.

(Photo credit: Sumio Yamada)

If Taylor is anywhere near the version of himself, that beat Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez, Teofimo will be in for a long night. Taylor shares the same promoters at Top Rank as Teofimo, which makes it worthwhile for them to put this fight together.

Even if Teofimo loses, Top Rank remains ahead because Taylor is with them.

Taylor, 31, feels that Teofimo is a “clown” and has overlooked two of his opponents during his career, most recently with his bout against Sandor Martin last Saturday night.

Although Teofimo defeated Martin (40-3, 13 KOs) by a 10 round split decision in New York, many boxing fans had the Spaniard winning that fight. They viewed the contest as a hometown decision for the A-side Teo, a New Yorker.

#1 WBO ranked 140-lb contender Teofimo (18-1, 13 KOs) is being moved in the direction of the unbeaten World Boxing Organization champion Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs).

The two could potentially meet at the midpoint of next year, provided that Josh defeats #5 WBO Jack Catterall in their rematch.

Teofimo is also ranked #4 with the WBC, and the current champion Regis Prograis has expressed interest in defending his belt against him. Interestingly, Prograis has repeatedly said that he’d “hurt” Teofimo and put him in the hospital.

“I take him to bits,” WBO light welterweight champion Josh Taylor said to Sky Sports News about Teofimo Lopez. “He’s a bit of a clown. He seems to look past his opponents all the time.

“It’s twice he’s made the same mistake and almost paid the price for it again.”

The Scottish fighter Taylor still needs to defeat Catterall for him to be talking about basing Teofimo to bits. There are a lot of boxing fans that believed that Taylor was given not only a controversial decision against Catterall last February but also in his fight with Prograis in 2019 in London, England.

Against Catterall, Taylor was given a 12 round split decision. The scores were:

  • 114-111 – Taylor
  • 113-112 – Taylor
  • 113-112 – Catterall

“I was confident of beating him anyway,” Taylor continued about Teofimo. “Let’s not forget, he did very well to beat [Vasily] Lomachenko, but he beat a small, injured lightweight that really could make featherweight.

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due, but he’s not in there with blown-up featherweights anymore,” said Taylor about Teofimo.