Josh Taylor has taken real offense to a few of Teofimo Lopez’s trash discuss throughout the buildup towards their 140-pound title struggle.
The Scotsman’s endurance has worn skinny whereas listening to Lopez, whom he has referred to as “a clown” and “an actual piece of sh!t” once they’ve hung out selling their struggle collectively. Taylor admitted throughout their closing press convention Thursday at Madison Sq. Backyard that the animosity between them is actual, not merely manufactured drama to assist promote their struggle for Taylor’s WBO junior welterweight title.
“I feel it’s a bit bit real,” Taylor informed moderator Mark Shunock. “You understand, he says what he means and I imply what I say as properly. Sorry I received that improper there. However yeah, I say what I imply as properly. So, yeah, it’s a little little bit of real dislike right here. And he’s been disrespectful. So yeah, and a whole lot of phrases he’s mentioned I’m gonna make him pay for on Saturday. So yeah, I can’t wait to get in there.”
Workers of Bob Arum’s promotional firm, High Rank Inc., ensured that Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) and Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) didn’t put their fingers on each other Thursday by protecting safety personnel close by throughout the press convention. As soon as it ended, safety guards stood between Taylor and Lopez whereas they posed for pictures on stage.
Taylor jawed at his opponent and tried to get close to Lopez a number of instances, however a New York Metropolis policeman prevented that from taking place. The 2 fighters have been by no means allowed shut sufficient for his or her verbal battle to show bodily.
The marginally favored Taylor indicated that he thinks he can knock out Lopez, maybe even early in a 12-round most important occasion ESPN will air from The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. Lopez laughed at Taylor’s prediction.
Brooklyn’s Lopez additionally acknowledged that the meat between him and Taylor is authentic.
“It’s what it’s, man,” Lopez mentioned throughout the press convention. “I converse my fact and that’s how I really feel. Yeah, so you already know, the whole lot that I converse out, you already know, I’m simply attempting to make it into existence. You understand, legislation of attraction, you already know, having good religion in it and simply placing on a present and giving what the followers actually wanna see, you now, an excellent efficiency.”
ESPN’s telecast is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. EDT on Saturday night time. Unbeaten Puerto Rican junior middleweight Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) is ready to battle Los Angeles’ Ronald Cruz (18-2-1, 12 KOs) within the eight-round opener of ESPN’s doubleheader.
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He will be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
