Boxing

Teofimo Lopez takes on Josh Taylor in undisputed negotiations at 140


Via Allan Fox: Teofimo Lopez let the cat out of the bag by revealing on Friday that he is in talks to fight undisputed lightweight champion Josh Taylor for a fight in the summer.

It is not yet clear if four-belt undefeated 140-lb champion Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) will be given permission by the WBA & WBC to voluntarily defend against the next Teofimo, as those sanctioning bodies have already come out. orders Josh to perform the required defense.

This week, the World Boxing Council ordered 31-year-old Taylor to begin negotiations with the WBC No. Jose Zepeda. Last week, the WBA ordered Taylor to begin negotiations on a war against forced conscription Alberto Puello. Whether those two sanctioning agencies are willing to let Taylor detain their required challengers remains to be seen.

If not, Teofimo will need to wait until 2023 to claim the title, assuming Taylor wins his back-to-back mandatory defenses. Of course, Taylor could always vacate his 140-lb WBA & WBC titles and take on Teofimo with his IBF & WBO belts.

The match will generate as much interest and earn as if Taylor and Teofimo were to fight for the undisputed championship at 140.

Teofimo Lopez speaks to The Good Fight with Kate Abdo about his loss to George Kambosos Jr. in November of last year.

“They put me in #2 in the WBO rankings because I fit it,” continued Teofimo. “I bring excitement to the 140-lb division. Whether [Ryan] Garcia or whoever else comes in, they have to come see me at 140. That’s me taking over the department.

“I fight for a world title which is definitely the next battle. I look forward to coming back again. My goal is to be the undisputed three-time world champion.

“I am looking forward to returning in the summer. We’re trying to make me and Taylor undisputed. He’s done [at 140], but it looks like we’re working on something. I will take them all back in one go,” said Teofimo.

Taylor and Teofimo are both signed to First Division Boxing, so it’s understandable why this fight might have taken place. However, it’s hard to imagine that a fight between Taylor vs. Teofimo could go on to contest the undisputed championship, as Josh had two mandatory defenses that were required.

“No one knows what I went through in that war, where my father told me so many times, ‘I’m going to throw the towel in because you look like you’re dying on me.’ He knew I had asthma, bronchitis and the early stages of pneumonia.

“It was a good lesson well taught because I hit me that night. I get annoyed at how many times I have to prove myself,” said Teofimo.

24-year-old Teofimo will have a decisive 12-round match last November against George Kambosos Jr. in New York.

Like Vasyl Lomachenko before him, Teofimo has battled injuries, and it’s not surprising he hasn’t been able to win in those conditions.



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