Boxing Live: Josh Taylor expects Teofimo Lopez to be knocked out in the first round of their fight, and he plans to put on a commanding display.
Lopez will fight Taylor at the Madison Square Garden Theatre this weekend, in the small hours of Sunday morning. Taylor was the previous undisputed super-lightweight champion and a ring-perfect fighter.
During the opening rounds of their WBO 140-pound title battle, Taylor thinks he can stop Lopez.
This would be a forceful declaration against a foe who, by defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko, became a lightweight three-belt unified champion.
With that outcome, Taylor would once again be recognised as one of the sport’s most able champions.
Taylor told Sky Sports, “The way I think he’s going to fight, we’ll get him out of there early. It will be a boxing match, a brilliant boxing battle, but nothing that will surprise me if it goes the other way, which I think it may as well.
“I’ve been watching him a lot in the weeks leading up to this bout, and I believe I know what to anticipate. But I’m more than prepared for anything he delivers.
“Having said that, Teofimo Lopez is a very excellent fighter and is comparable to the opponent that defeated Lomachenko.”
Taylor will be fighting for the first time under the guidance of Joe McNally, but the Scotsman is certain that following his disputed victory over Jack Catterall last time out, Taylor will regain his best form.
“I’ve got my mojo back, I’ve said that so many times. I believe I have it back now. I simply feel like my chirpy old self has returned. The way I used to be before the confrontation with [Regis] Prograis. I think I’ve reverted to thinking like that. Also in that kind of form,” Taylor remarked.
He said, “I wouldn’t say the passion for the game was lost. I simply felt like there was always one piece missing, the one connection I was yearning for but couldn’t find. the best version of myself.
“None of that exists now. I feel like I’m achieving my full potential, being authentic, and working on the areas of my game that need improvement. I simply feel like I’m operating at full capacity.”
He’ll be fired up this week in New York before the fight, and Taylor and Lopez have been engaged in a verbal battle for quite some time.
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