Guess Who’s Bizzack! Teofimo Lopez Defeats Josh Taylor To Execute The “Takeback”
The champ is here! After a tumultuous year of questionable wins, Teofimo Lopez executed the "Takeback" by defeating Josh Taylor and earning his WBO and The Ring light welterweight title. Taylor came from Scotland to The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Lopez's hometown, and left minus his jewelry.
The dominant performance, where many scored Lope winning nine rounds to Taylor's three, signaled the return of the top-tier fighter the boxing world fell in love with.
Lopez took apart the naturally bigger Josh Taylor to win a unanimous decision and the lineal/WBO junior welterweight world championship in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card.
Judge Benoit Roussel scored it 117-111 but judges Joseph Pasquale and Steve Gray shockingly had the apparent rout 115-113. Fight Freaks Unite scored the fight 118-110 for Lopez.
"Do I still got it," Lopez said aloud, leaning against the ropes after the fight.
From “The Takeover” To “The Takeback”
The magnificent performance was one of the best of his career and at a perfect time. Although he left the competition of the lightweight division after his loss to George Kambosos, Jr. back in 2021, Lopez now has a plethora of options.
He can attempt to go undisputed at light welterweight and take on IBF champ Subriel Matias, WBA champ Rolly Romero, or WBC champ Regis Prograis; all great options.
He could even return to lightweight and face current undisputed champion and nemesis, Devin Haney, who defeated the same man that made Teofimo famous, Vasiliy Lomachenko. Even Adrien Broner called out the winner of Taylor vs. Lopez after his return win on Friday.
It is a sharp turnaround from the depression narrative that Lopez was framing based on his brutal honesty. The former unified lightweight champion got knocked down and struggled to win a split decision over a fringe contender in Sandor Martin in December. Lopez dejected, questioned himself and his boxing future.
Six months later he has answered all doubts.