After defeating Sandor Martin by split decision last December at Madison Square Garden, Teofimo Lopez was heard in the ring saying, “Do I still got it?”
A few months later, against WBO/Ring Magazine 140-pound champion Josh Taylor on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, but this time, at The Theater. Lopez(19-1, 13 KOs) answered the question with a resounding “Yes!!”
In front of a sold-out crowd(5,151), which broke the record for the largest gate at The Theater, the former unified and lineal lightweight king captured the WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight world titles with a 12-round unanimous decision win against Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs).
With scores of 115-113 2x and 117-111, the Brooklyn native is now a lineal world champion in two divisions. The 115-113 was a little close, but ultimately, the right man won.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 10: Josh Taylor (L) and Teofimo Lopez (R) exchange punches during their WBO junior welterweight championship fight at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
“I questioned myself for a good reason,” he said. “You guys don’t understand. I’ve always been my worst critic. And you guys got a little glimpse of it. But I’ve just got to ask you one thing, and one thing only. Do I still got it?”
Lopez dominated Taylor, and according to CompuBox, he outlanded Taylor 158-82. It was a fantastic night for Lopez, and now he’s back on top.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Lopez said. “We just beat the Number 1 guy. The lineal world champion. The former undisputed world champion.”
Before this fight, many were calling for the 25-year-old to leave his father/trainer Teofimo Lopez Sr., but this win over Taylor may have said otherwise.
“I’m so grateful,” Lopez said. “This was a bout fixing what we needed to. That’s why I don’t leave my coach. I trust in him a lot.”
In terms of talent, there are few fighters as good as Lopez, and he showed that against Vasiliy Lomachenko when he became undisputed at 135 in 2020, and he showed that on Saturday night. It might have helped that Taylor was inactive for 16 months, but Lopez did not just beat Taylor; he dominated him.
Lopez and his father tried to tell everyone what would happen all week. Some believed them, but most did not. However, in the end, Team Lopez was right.
