Josh Taylor has told Teofimo Lopez he will “make him pay” for controversial comments about wanting to kill him.
The Scottish fighter defends his WBO light-welterweight title against Lopez this weekend at Madison Square Garden, having vacated three of his belts since beating Jack Catterall last February.
He was undisputed champion at that point, though was incredibly fortunate to get the decison on the cards against Catterall and needs a much-improved display on Saturday night to get his career back on track.
Lopez has not been hugely convincing since his move up to 140lbs, one that came after he lost his lightweight titles to George Kambosos Jr in his first defence after a superb victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko.
In the build-up to this fight, Lopez has been outspoken in threatening Taylor and has refused to go back on his comments despite facing criticism for talking about taking a life in the ring.
“I said it like it is, I wanna kill Josh Taylor,” Lopez told Punsh Drunk Boxing.
“When I fought Vasiliy Lomachenko, I took his heart. Taylor’s got no heart, so what can I really take from this man? His life.
“The only way I’mma make a statement is by doing that. I’m not sorry about that. How do I scare people more than ever? Take a man’s life.”
Taylor was due to rematch Catterall earlier this year but was forced to pull out of that fight with injury, and has instead been ordered by the WBO to defend his belt against Lopez.
The 32-year-old is expected to move up to 147lbs in the near future, but is confident that he will first move to 20-0 and put a frustrating 18 months behind him.
“There’s genuine dislike here,” Taylor said at the press conference.
“He’s been disrespectful. A lot of words he said I’m going to make him pay for on Saturday. I can’t wait to get in there and get amongst him.
“Josh Taylor win, that’s all. Possibly by KO, nice and eary as well.”
