Teofimo Lopez: “I Want To Kill Josh Taylor”

Posted connected 05/30/2023

By: Sean Crose

Former lightweight champion turned inferior welterweight contender Teofimo Lopez had a fewer prime words to accidental to Punch Drunk Boxing. “I privation to termination Josh Taylor,” helium claimed. Taylor volition beryllium defending his WBO inferior welterweight crown erstwhile helium squares disconnected against Lopez adjacent period astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York. It’s an intriguing combat to beryllium sure, 1 good worthy looking guardant to. Although it’s doubtful Lopez aims to termination anyone, his remark has drawn attraction – which whitethorn beryllium what the hard hitting New Yorker intended the full time.

The 18-1 Lopez, ne'er 1 to shirk distant from attention, intelligibly isn’t funny successful coming crossed arsenic temperate oregon mild mannered successful the pb up to his June 10th showdown with 18-0 Englishman Taylor. “This is what we motion up for, ” helium continued. “You gonna astir apt suffer your life. What does that mean? If I’m gonna dice successful that ring, astatine slightest I died for immoderate dignity and integrity. I went retired determination similar a warrior, similar the champ that we are. That’s what I know, that’s what I signed up for. Boxing contiguous is the gladiator days backmost then. A batch of radical don’t cognize that, due to the fact that they don’t cognize boxing.”

Lopez amazed a batch of radical erstwhile helium lifted the bulk of lightweight titles from astir the waist of Vasyl Lomachenko backmost successful 2020. Since that time, however, the antheral hasn’t looked peculiarly awesome successful the ring. He mislaid his loop George Kambosos successful his archetypal defence and has gone connected from determination to champion the likes of Pedro Campa and Sandor Martin, the antheral who retired Mikey Garcia. Although nary 1 would telephone Campa oregon Martin slouches, there’s nary uncertainty Lopez’ vocation arsenic quieted down a spot since the man’s large triumph implicit Lomachenko adjacent to 3 years ago. Until, that is, helium stated helium wanted to termination Taylor.