Josh Taylor believes he merely had a “unhealthy night time” when he misplaced to Teofimo Lopez earlier this summer time.
The previous undisputed 140-pound champion from Scotland nonetheless thinks he’s the most effective within the division and is hoping to maneuver onto larger cash fights, probably on the 147-pound restrict.
Taylor misplaced his WBO 140-pound title to Lopez, the previous unified light-weight champion, by unanimous choice, in June, at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis. The win reinvigorated the embattled Lopez, whose profession gave the impression to be in extremis. With the loss, Taylor, alternatively, appeared to have misplaced a step, provided that it was his second consecutive efficiency the place he did appear like the superior fighter within the ring. (Taylor’s shut win over Jack Catterall final yr was thought to be one of many greatest robberies in current British boxing.)
In a current interview, Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) chalked up the lone defeat of his profession as nothing greater than an aberration.
“Pay attention, don’t be fooled,” Taylor advised Boxing Information+. “I’m not wanting any choices transferring ahead. It’s extra a case of what I need to do. What’s finest for me at the moment and what sort of path I need to take. I’ve loads of choices. I nonetheless imagine I’m the most effective within the division. I simply had a nasty night time.
“Whenever you’re on the top-tier stage—Teofimo Lopez isn’t any slouch. He’s arguably, though I nonetheless say he’s not—he’s arguably a two-weight undisputed world champion. He’s crushed the person who has crushed the person twice….when you’ve got a little bit of an off night time you’re not going to win these fights when you’ve got a little bit of an off night time whenever you’re on the peak stage of the game.”
Taylor, a profession 140-pounder, has hinted that he could also be seeking to restart his profession as a welterweight.
“Simply anyone with an enormous identify and whoever has bought the title, whoever has bought the belts,” Taylor mentioned. “Clearly, I’m at a stage in my profession the place I’ve to earn essentially the most cash. I would like to have the ability to earn some good cash fights now. I really feel I’ve earned that proper given what I’ve achieved the final a number of years. I’m on the lookout for the massive fights and whoever’s bought the titles actually.”
Sean Nam is the writer of Homicide on Federal Road: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Final Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.
