By Jim Calfa: Josh Taylor doesn’t take Teofimo Lopez seriously about him saying that he wants to “kill” him on June 10th in their fight on ESPN. WBO light welterweight champion Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) dares the New Yorker Teofimo to try to hurt him, and he’ll wind up in the back of an ambulance.

Teofimo’s career is arguably on the line for this fight because he cannot afford to lose. He’ll get passed up by some of the talented fighters in the 140-lb division, fighters like Arnold Barboza Jr, Richardson Hitchins, and Gary Antunne Russell. Most believe Teofimo will lose to Taylor, and his career will continue its downward trajectory, ending with Top Rank dumping him once his contract ends.

The former unified lightweight champion Teofimo (18-1, 13 KOs) will be challenging for a world title in his third fight at 140 after moving up from 135 last August.

Unfortunately, Teofimo hasn’t looked spectacular in his two fights in the 140-lb division, laboring against Pedro Campa and Sandor Martin. Teo hasn’t looked right since his loss to George Kambosos Jr in 2021, and there are signs that he’s physically & mentally not the same fighter he once was.

“The last fight I take a bit of a pinch of salt. Well, we’ve all had bad performances. I wasn’t great in my last fight either,” said Josh Taylor to BroBible about Teofimo Lopez’s last fight against Sandor Martin. “I don’t really care. I’ll prepare for the best version of Teofimo.

“Hey, I think the guy’s a bit of a tool he’s a space cadet,” said Taylor on why he walked out of his interview with Teofimo.

“Come and try and take my life and let’s see who’s the one that ends up in the back with an ambulance. Let them come and try we’ll see what happens,” said Taylor reacting to Teofimo recently saying that he wants to “kill him” inside the ring.

A lot of eyes will be on the 32-year-old former undisputed light welterweight champion Taylor, who hasn’t fought since his controversial twelve-round split decision win over Jack Catterall sixteen months ago in February 2022. Many boxing fans felt that Taylor should have lost the fight.

It’s important that Taylor not only win on June 10th but look good in doing so to show the fans that he’s still the same fighter that beat Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez. However, those were both grueling wars and they may have taken something out of Taylor, leaving the vulnerable fighter we saw struggling against the limited Catterall.

Taylor-Teofimo will be taking place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City.