Josh Taylor believes his recently mandated fight with former unified lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez, is a much more appealing prospect than a bout with Jack Catterall. Taylor is heading for a showdown with Lopez rumoured to be taking place in May/June with Edinburgh leading the race to host the fight if reports are to be believed.
WBO world super-lightweight champion, Taylor, is currently recovering from a torn tendon in his foot which saw a proposed March 4th rematch postponed with Jack Catterall. Taylor v Lopez came out of the blue when mandated by the WBO considering that rematch talks between Taylor & Catterall had been ongoing for twelve months.
Several dates had been discussed and false dawns to getting a rematch signed and sealed however injuries to Taylor had seen those plans scuppered. Taylor says due to the WBO ordering him to face Lopez has forced him to move away from Catterall, however, it is believed that talks between the pair had been ongoing for some time. This is considering that both fighters both fight under the Top Rank promotional banner.
“They've ordered me to fight Teofimo Lopez,” Taylor told Sky Sports. “It’s one I want to do, It's the only belt I’ve got left, the WBO, so I want to keep it. If I went and then fought Jack I'd be fighting him with no titles. I want to keep the title. They're all my belts, but I want to keep this one. Further on down the line, Jack and me can still fight. I don't know what's going to happen now. I definitely will [but] it's out of my control, it's not my fault the WBO got in touch.”
Ultimately Josh feels that he will now be involved in a better fight when he faces Lopez and concedes it's a much harder fight than any encounter with Catterall.
“At the end of the day, it's out of my control. This fight (Lopez) is a much bigger fight than the Catterall fight. It's a much bigger fight and it's a harder fight. He is a much higher calibre of opponent. He has been at a higher level. He's been in with better fighters. He's done the business and got the t-shirt. I think it's a better fight.”
Josh has been ridiculed by Jack in recent days for side-stepping him and seeing what was one of the most highly anticipated fights set for 2023 in the UK fall by the wayside. Josh responded by calling Jack and his team “Cry Babies” and doubts that Jack will face him again if an opportunity arises to do so.
“I have become undisputed, fighting on the road,” Taylor said. “To say I am afraid [of Catterall] is ridiculous. I just laugh. There was no one more than me who wanted to put this right. But this will happen.”
“The way him and his team are crying about it and moaning like little kids,” Taylor said of Catterall. “They’re moaning cry-babies, sore losers is what they are. I don't think Jack Catterall is going to go anywhere. He will get the chance to rectify it, but I highly doubt he is going to get near me.”
