WBO Super-Lightweight: Josh Taylor lost his WBO super-lightweight championship and unblemished record in New York against Teofimo Lopez in a brilliant points victory.
The Scotsman’s world title reign, which dated back to May 2019, came to an end when Taylor failed to deal with Lopez’s blurring punches and fluid movement in the second half of the fight, which he won with scores of 115-113, 115-115, and 117-111.
Taylor, fighting in Madison Square Garden for the first time since a disputed win over Jack Catterall in February 2022, had made an encouraging start.
In the early rounds, the 32-year-old southpaw used his stature and reach to his advantage, landing several crisp punches and crushing body smashes.
Lopez dropped to the canvas in the third round, but then drove Taylor to the floor in the fourth before stuning the Scot with a tremendous blow in the last seconds of the round.
Taylor responded with a slick combination in the following round, but Lopez turned up the pressure in the sixth, sliding one punch below the belt line as he recovered dominance.
Lopez exuded confidence in the seventh, but he had to withstand a few of crisp shots from Taylor before rocking him with a right hand at the conclusion of the round.
Taylor was rocked in the ninth after the Brooklyn boxer engaged in some showboating in the eighth as he continued to display his hand speed.
Lopez raised his arms in victory in the 11th round, an early celebration after troubling his opponent with additional quick punches.
Lopez ended the battle on top, capturing a world title in a second weight class, leaving Taylor shaky on his feet once more.
“No excuses,” claimed Taylor, who had renounced the WBC, IBF, and WBA championships while preparing for a rematch with Catterall, which had been postponed due to a foot ailment.
“He was better that night. It is what it is, so kudos to Teofimo.
“I’d love to do it again. I know I’m better than him, and I’m confident I can defeat him.
“So, yes, I would love to do it again, but he’s the champ, and the ball is in his court.”
“I just want to thank God first,” Lopez stated. It has taken a long time.
“We just beat the number one champion, Josh Taylor, who was the former undisputed champion.”
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