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Josh Taylor Aims to Retire Teofimo Lopez, Plans to Cement Doubts
Josh Taylor, the WBO 140-pound titlist from Scotland, has his sights set on retiring Teofimo Lopez when the two fighters meet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 10. Taylor is confident that he can add to the dent in Lopez's confidence after his upset loss to George Kambosos Jr. last year.
In a recent interview on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Taylor revealed that he plans on giving Lopez such a beating that he doesn't think he's that guy anymore. Taylor acknowledged Lopez as a great fighter who has achieved a lot in the sport, including a victory over three division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. However, Taylor believes that Lopez's profile and attitude make him a prime target for retirement.
“His ego has taken a massive hit. You can see he’s a bit mentally fragile, anyway. Me, with this fight, I plan on retiring this guy. I plan on giving him that much of a beating that he doesn’t think that he’s that guy anymore. He’s already got them doubts, I’m gonna cement them and retire him,” Taylor said.
Taylor also recognized that Lopez is a great fighter and that he hasn't looked great in his last couple of fights, but neither has Taylor. He believes that the two fighters are evenly matched and that it will be an exciting fight for the fans.
The 30-year-old Taylor has an impressive record of 18-0 with 13 knockouts and is the fifth person in history to become the undisputed world champion in the four-belt era. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Lopez has a record of 16-1 with 12 knockouts and is a former unified lightweight champion.
Lopez recently made headlines for criticizing ESPN commentators Andre Ward and Tim Bradley and his promoter for what he perceived as preferential treatment to Black fighters on their roster. However, his comments have not seemed to affect his upcoming fight with Taylor, and both fighters are expected to bring their A-game come June 10.
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