WBO light welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) faces former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) in the 12-round welterweight clash at Madison Square Garden in New York, airing on ESPN/ESPN+.
Initially, Taylor was scheduled to rematch Jack Catterall on March 4, but an injury forced a postponement. Taylor, the 32-year-old Scottish star, stated he could return to training in six to eight weeks. However, a contract oversight by U.K.-based promoter Boxxer enabled Taylor to switch gears and pursue the thrilling showdown with Lopez. Despite the controversy surrounding Taylor's split-decision victory over Catterall in February 2022, he is now focused on his upcoming bout with Lopez.
Lopez, a charismatic and gifted fighter, lost the four belts he acquired from Lomachenko in a shocking upset against George Kambosos. Subsequent lackluster performances in two fights at 140 pounds, including a disputed split-decision win over Sandor Martin, have drawn criticism. However, Lopez remains undeterred, vowing to knock out Taylor before facing Martin.
For years, Taylor and Lopez have exchanged jabs outside the ring, and now, the stage is set for an epic clash between these two titans. As Taylor embarks on his fifth fight in the U.S., he brings with him the momentum from his career-best victory over Jose Ramirez in May 2021. Both fighters are primed and ready, and the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome of this high-drama encounter.
Watch Josh Taylor's Road to Becoming Undisputed Champion on YouTube: Watch
In the co-main event, Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) will return to the ring to meet Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12, KOs) in the 10 rounds junior middleweight battle.
Xander Zayas, the 20-year-old native of San Juan, Puerto Rico last fought in December 2022 at Madison Square Garden, scored a unanimous decision against Alexis Salazar (24-5-0, 9 KOs).
Ronald Cruz was in action in August 2022 in Stockton, where he lost by unanimous decision to Mexican boxer Damian Sosa.
Jamaine Ortiz was unable to make the weight so his fight with Humberto Galindo was canceled.
Main card: (begins at 10 pm ET)
▪️Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez, 12 rounds, for Taylor’s WBO junior welterweight title ▪️Xander Zayas vs. Ronald Cruz, 10 rounds, junior middleweight
Undercard: (begins at 6:10 pm ET)
▪️Robson Conceicao vs. Nicolas Polanco, 10 rounds, super featherweight ▪️Omar Rosario vs. Jan Carlos Rivera, 8 rounds, junior welterweight ▪️Damian Knyba vs. Helaman Olguin, 8 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Bruce Carrington vs. Luis Porozo, 8 rounds, featherweight ▪️Henry Lebron vs. Carlos Ramos, 10 rounds, junior lightweight
