Former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor believes he simply had a bad night when losing via decision against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez in June, and has expressed his desire to move towards big money fights as the Scotsman reaches the back nine of an illustrious pro career.
Taylor bullish about off-night, as you’d expect
Many quickly proclaimed he lost a step or two, but Josh Taylor declared his UD12 defeat by Teofimo Lopez this summer was nothing more than a bad night at the office for the former undisputed king at 140lbs as he plots his way back to the top.
His first official pro defeat, many will feel it was inevitable after a controversial split decision win over divisional rival Jack Catterall 16 months earlier, and the injury-enforced rematch postponement wouldn’t have helped him recover to 100% before jumping straight into another big fight Stateside. Hindsight is 20/20, after all.
Although he’s fought his entire pro career at light-welterweight, the 32-year-old has long spoken of his desire to move up to welter and a potential showdown against undisputed world champion Terence Crawford was mooted at one stage before Bud‘s destructive display against then-unified titlist Errol Spence Jr in July.
Crawford’s pursuit of further greatness in higher weight classes could soon see the world titles fragment at 147lbs, with IBF interim champion Jaron Ennis widely regarded as the division’s next long-reigning titlist.
In a recent interview with Boxing News, Taylor stressed he has options aplenty and again complimented Lopez for doing the business on his off night.
“Listen, don’t be fooled. I’m not short of any options moving forward. It’s more a case of what I want to do.
What’s best for me at this time, what kind of path I want to take – plenty of options. I still believe I’m the best in the division, just had a bad night.
When you’re at the top-tier level – Teofimo Lopez is no slouch. He’s arguably, although I still say he’s not – a two-weight undisputed world champion.
He’s beaten the man [Vasiliy Lomachenko at lightweight] who has beaten the man twice….when you have a bit of an off night you’re not going to win these fights, at the peak level of the sport.”
So, what’s next then?
On his ambitions going forward: “Just anybody with a big name and whoever has got the title, whoever has got the belts. Obviously, I’m at a stage in my career where I have to earn the most money.
I want to be able to earn some good money fights now. I feel I’ve earned that right given what I’ve achieved the last several years. I’m looking for the big fights and whoever’s got the titles really.”
Eddie Hearn, Catterall’s current promoter, has publicly revealed a willingness to rebook the cancelled rematch between the pair during the first quarter of 2024 in the UK and it’s a matchup with mutual interest there.
A bad smell followed team Taylor as they insisted the right man won that disputed decision in Glasgow, while Catterall – regarded by many as the lineal champion – was inactive and hasn’t got the hardware to justify a career-best night.
Taylor initially said he would move up after the Lopez loss, so a 143lb catchweight has been suggested as a healthy compromise should El Gato succeed unscathed in his Liverpool headliner with former world champion Jorge Linares next month.
Picture source: Getty Images
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