Boxing fans are in for a massive treat as the former undisputed light-welterweight champion and WBO light-heavyweight champion, "The Tartan Tornado" Josh Taylor, clashes with former unified lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez. British fighter Josh Taylor will be looking to repair his image and retain his WBO title after his last win ended with a backlash as fans, media, and the sportsbooks queried his split decision win over Jack Catterall last year. The southpaw defends his title against the talented American boxer who represented Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Boxing: WBO Light-Welterweight championship
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
Where to watch: ESPN+, SKYSPORTS
Date: 11.06.2023. 05.00
Josh Taylor
In May 2021, Scotsman Josh Taylor became the first British undisputed champion in the four-belt era when he defeated Jose Ramirez for the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO light-welterweight titles. By February 2022, Taylor earned a controversial SD over his first mandatory challenger Jack Catterall. While Taylor defended his win, many analysts expressed dismay at the Judges' scorecards because Jack Catterall landed more punches and power punches. The former light-welterweight Commonwealth silver medalist was named "The Tartan Tornado" because of his aggressive style. He has thirteen knockouts from nineteen wins. Turning pro in 2015, he became the undisputed light-welterweight champion by 2019, becoming only the fifth man in the four-belt era after Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, and Oleksandr Usyk.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5.10"
- Reach: 69.5"
- Record: 19-0
These are the kind of fights, all these big names in the sport that keep the motivation and the fire burning in my belly and give me that excitement and that buzz. The fire's clearly burning. I'm really excited to be here and boxing in the Mecca of boxing. Madison Square Garden is where all the giants and the legends of the sport have boxed in the past. Hopefully, I can do this fight, and I will become a legend, a present legend.
Teofimo Lopez
Still, only 25, American Teofimo Lopez made a mark in the lightweight division before his move up to light-welterweight. Against the odds, and while still an unbeaten fighter, he defeated Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko in October 2020 to add the WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles to his IBF lightweight belt, which he won the previous December from Richard Commey. He lost the titles in his next fight when he was defeated by 13-1 underdog George Kambosos Jr. Picking up two wins in the light-welterweight class, "El Brooklyn" will attempt to become a two-weight division champion when he meets Josh Taylor in his home state of New York.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 25
- Height: 5.8"
- Reach: 68.5"
- Record: 18-1
Betting Odds
The British champion is the clear favorite of the bookies, with a price of 1.57 odds on Bet365. And 1.68 on 1XBET. Going for the underdog, 2.344 is the price of a Lopez win on Coinplay, with the American to win by KO or TKO at 5.5 odds on the sportsbook. Looking at rounds betting, under 10.5 rounds is valued at 2.5 odds on 1XBET; Fight to go the distance is priced at 1.57 on Bet365. Josh Taylor to win by decision is 2.75 on Bet365, and 4 odds is the price of a decision win by Lopez on Coinplay.
