It’s a chance for redemption for Josh Taylor, as he defends his WBO Light Welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez. We’ve previewed this one and given you our suggested bets.
Taylor vs Lopez Predictions
It’s an often used cliche in boxing but there has been genuine bad blood building up to this world title fight, with the challenger using some pretty ugly language, when describing how he sees the fight going.
Teofimo Lopez (18-1-0 (13 KO)) shocked many in the sport, when he spoke about wanting to kill the champion and taking the Scot’s life.
In a sport as brutal as this one, when people do genuinely lose their lives in the ring, it’s a pretty disgusting turn of phrase and throw’s up more questions about the American’s mental state.
Josh Taylor (19-0-0 (13 KO)), to his credit, has refused to get drawn into such trash talk and looks happy to do his conversing in the ring.
After a highly disputed victory over Jack Catterall last time out, that many observers thought the Chorley man won, a comprehensive win over a recent world champion would be the perfect riposte.
Lopez needs his own response too, after losing his lightweight belts to George Kambosos Jr. and struggling to a split decision victory last time out, against Sandor Martin.
So which way will this one go? Let’s find out…
Where and when is the fight taking place?
The fight is happening at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on Saturday, Jun 10th and will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK. The event is a Bob Arum promotion for Top Rank. The show will start at around 12 am, with the main ring walk taking place at around 4.30 am.
What does the full fight card look like?
- MAIN EVENT: Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez (WBO Light Welterweight Title)
- Henry Lebron vs. Carlos Ramos
- Jamaine Ortiz vs. Humberto Galindo
- Robson Conceicao vs. Nicolas Polanco
- Omar Rosario vs. Jan Carlos Rivera
- Damian Knyba vs. Helaman Olguin
- Bruce Carrington vs. Luis Porozo
- Xander Zayas vs. Ronald Cruz
(subject to change)
Who’s the favourite?
Josh Taylor is the 4/7 favourite for this world title defence, with Teofimo Lopez the outsider at 6/4. If you fancy this one to be really close, then the draw is available at 20/1.
What’s been said?
Taylor:
“I feel like I’ve got my mojo back, I feel like I’m back to my old self.
(on Lopez’s comments about wanting to kill him) I don’t react, but he will pay for his words on fight night. I’m going to give him a good beating.
I think it’s going to be great while it lasts. I think one of us is getting knocked out, and I don’t think it’s going to be myself that’s for sure.”
Lopez:
“This is a kill or be killed sport. And I said it like it is, I wanna kill Josh Taylor.
Taylor’s got no heart, so what can I really take from this man? His life.
The only way I’mma make a statement is by doing that. I’m not sorry about that.
How do I scare people more than ever? Take a man’s life.”
Josh Taylor to win – 4/7
The Tartan Tornado looked a shadow of his former self against Jack Catterall and led to many questioning whether he was really as good as first thought.
The 32-year-old has spoken during this fight of getting his love for the sport back and he seems to be wanting to put a performance on for this fight.
Not only does he want to shut up the Brooklyn Native after his crude and reckless comments but he needs to prove to the boxing community that he still is one of the best P4P boxers in the sport.
Lopez looked awful against both Kambosos and Martin and was seen questioning himself at the end of the latter fight: “Do I still got it?”
The 25-year-old clearly isn’t in a good spot, speaking of his wife leaving him and taking half his money and the awful interview about killing Taylor makes me think he isn’t in a good mental space.
With all that in mind, I’m taking Taylor to win this one comfortably.
Josh Taylor to win on points – 17/10
Taylor has only one KO win in his last five fights and while Lopez got dropped in his last fight, I can’t see the Scot stopping him.
Back the Southpaw to win on a heavy points decision.
Enjoy the fight and good luck!
*All prices correct at the time of writing.
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