Ready to take over another division, Teofimo Lopez steps up and challenges Josh Taylor for the WBO and Ring Magazine super lightweight titles on June 10.
The fight is inside Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater and will air live on ESPN.
Taylor won the World Boxing Super Super Series super lightweight tournament in 2018. "The Tartan Tornado" beat Ryan Martin in the quarter-finals; Ivan Baranchyk in the semi-finals for the IBF super lightweight title; and Regis Prograis in the finals for the WBA and Ring belts. The Scotsman was on top of the world when he beat Jose Ramirez for the WBC and WBO belts to become the undisputed champion.
Despite relinquishing three of his titles, Taylor is one of the best fighters in the world. Fully confident, he will not be backing down from Lopez’s unique offense.
"It could be a highly skilled boxing match and go the 12 rounds, but I think with his style and his personality, I'm not going to have to go looking for him and, the way I box, you don't have to go looking for me if you want to have a fight,” Taylor said via BBC.
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“It's got the potential to be an absolute firecracker - fireworks from the very get-go. One of us will get caught, and I don't see us seeing the final bell if that's the case - I can see him going on his back. He has a lot of flaws and makes a lot of mistakes. I can see me knocking him out early.”
Lopez beat Richard Commey in 2019 for the IBF lightweight title and Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 for the WBA, WBO, and Ring belts. After losing to George Kambosos, Lopez moved to a new division and defeated Sandor Martin despite being less than convincing. Looking to return to vintage form, “The Takeover” will do whatever it takes to hand Taylor his first loss.
Outside of Taylor vs. Lopez, several young prospects are looking to stand out. Here is a look into the Taylor vs. Lopez card.
Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez undercard
Xander Zayas vs. Ronald Cruz
- Division/Weight: Junior Middleweight
- Zayas record: 15-0
- Cruz record: 18-2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-main event will see Xander Zayas face Ronald Cruz in a bout for the Miguel Cotto Award. Winner of eleven national championship tournaments, Zayas (15-0) signed with Top Rank as its youngest prospect ever at 16. In 2019, he turned pro, beating Genesis Wynn via knockout. The Puerto Rican fighter dispatched Elias Espada in August 2022 for the WBO NABO super welterweight title and last fought in December when he beat Alexis Salazar.
Cruz (18-2-1) turned pro in 2014. Losing his third fight, "Diablo" would win 16 in a row. He is 1-1-1 in his last three fights, and was most recently outpointed by Damian Sosa in August.
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The Miguel Cotto Award celebrates the career of the Hall of Famer and "upholds the tradition of hosting a major fight card during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend.”
"I’ve always said that in the world of boxing, Miguel Cotto is my favorite fighter," said Zayas. "He is the reason I decided to become a fighter. It’s a total honor and a dream come true to have the opportunity to fight for an award that has his name. This confirms, for me, that we are on the right path, and it motivates me to keep working hard to continue accomplishing my dreams. I want to unite my Island and all the Puerto Ricans in the United States in the same way that Miguel did. That is my biggest dream, and I will achieve it.”
Henry Lebron vs. Christian Tapia
- Division/Weight: Junior Lightweight
- Lebron record: 17-0
- Tapia record: 15-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
On the ESPN+ prelims, Henry Lebron faces Christian Tapia. Turning pro in 2017, Lebron (17-0) has ten wins via knockout. "Moncho" last fought in September 2022 when he beat Andy Vences.
The 29-year-old Tapia (15-1) turned pro in 2017. A former NABA super featherweight champion, he last fought in November, losing against Thomas Mattice.
Omar Rosario vs. Jan Carlos Rivera
- Division/Weight: Junior Welterweight
- Rosario record: 10-0
- Rivera record: 8-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Omar Rosario vs. Jan Carlos Rivera is also on the card. Rosario (10-0) turned pro in 2020. The 25-year-old last fought in March, beating Zach Hill in his third win via knockout.
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Rivera (8-1) turned pro in 2016. After going 1-1 with one no-contest, the 29-year-old has won four in a row. His last bout was a TKO win over Patrick Okine in March.
Bruce Carrington vs. Luis Porozo
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Carrington record:
- 16-6 record:
- Belts at stake: N/A
Bruce Carrington returns to action against Luis Porozo. "Shu Shu" (7-0) turned pro in 2021. The 26-year-old has already fought twice in 2023, beating Brandon Chambers via knockout in his most recent bout, which took place in April.
Porozo (16-6) turned pro in 2015. The 32-year-old is 2-6 in his last seven fights. He ended a four-fight losing streak in his last bout in October, beating Jorge Saquinga via TKO.
When is Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez?
- Date: Saturday, June 10 | Sunday, June 11
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 11:15 p.m. ET | 4.15 a.m. GMT | 2.15 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
Taylor vs. Lopez airs on June 10. The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT. Both fighters should make their way to the ring around 11:15 p.m. ET | 4.15 a.m. GMT | 2.15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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How to watch Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. June 10 | ESPN+ |
| United Kingdom | Sun. June 11 | Sky Sports |
| Australia | Sun. June 11 | Main Event on Kayo |
In the U.S., the fight will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN. In the U.K., the bout will air on Sky Sports.
Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez price: How much does the card cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
MORE: Sign up to watch Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
