Former undisputed light welterweight champion Josh Taylor is still reeling from his embarrassing one-sided twelve round unanimous decision loss to Teofimo Lopez last June at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The scores were 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111 for Teofimo.
It was thought that after his loss, Taylor would flee to the 147-lb division and try to mentally regroup from this devastating setback. After all, he’d been complaining about how difficult it was for him to make weight at 140.
Taylor came into the fight with Teo with big dreams, but man, he was clowned with and made to look like he didn’t belong inside the ring with the New Yorker. It was one of Teofimo’s easiest fights in years, beating up the shell of Taylor, who completely washed after eight years in the pro ranks.
The 32-year-old Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) wants a rematch with WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo to get revenge and turn things around for his career.
Taylor has arguably lost his last two fights and has struggled in his last three, starting with his narrow 12 round decision victory over Jose Ramirez in May 2021.
Some feel that Ramirez took the best out of the Scottish fighter, Taylor, leaving the shell that Jack Catterall and Teofimo got the better of. The 2012 Olympian Taylor took a lot of punishment in the fight with Jose Ramirez, and he’s not looked like the same fighter since.
Early Brilliance, Crushing Fade
“I just wasn’t good enough on the night, that’s all. But I do firmly believe, me at my best, I win that fight all day. I’d love to correct that wrong and box him again,” said Josh Taylor to Sky Sports Boxing about wanting a rematch with Teofimo Lopez to try and avenge his bitter defeat from last summer in New York.
Taylor felt that he was in control of the fight after the first three rounds, thinking, “I’m going to stop this guy,” but it turned into his Waterloo from that point on, as Teofimo relaxed and settled into his game, buoyed by the crowd applause. It was just too easy for Teo, making a monkey out of the shot-looking Taylor, who couldn’t do a thing right.
Undeterred, Unbowed
If Taylor can’t get the rematch with Teofimo, he’s got Catterall, who would likely still be interested in fighting him if the money is right.
Obviously, there would be less for Catterall to gain by fighting Taylor now, but it would still be a bout that would attract a lot of attention from fans in the UK, who would be interested in seeing it. It’s questionable whether Taylor vs. Catterall 2 would sell on PPV, but you never know. If it’s promoted right, fans might be willing to purchase it in high numbers.
“I know I can perform better,” Taylor said about a rematch with Teofimo. “That’s what annoyed me. Me at my best, I win that fight all day.”
Josh Taylor hasn’t been at his best since his fight with Jose Ramirez in 2021, and you have to believe that he’s not the same fighter he was back then.
When a fighter has consecutive poor performances after a grueling match, like the one Taylor took part in, it’s reasonable to conclude that he’s a spent force.
