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Thousands Spent On Extra Security Ahead Of Josh Taylor-Teofimo Lopez Press Conference

Written by Tom Eaton on 6th June 2023.

Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez

Top Rank’s Vice President of Boxing Operations, Carl Moretti, has revealed that his promotional firm have spent an additional five thousand dollars on security for the fight week of Josh Taylor’s upcoming title defence against Teofimo Lopez.

Both Taylor and Lopez are coming into the fight off of controversial victories, against Jack Catterall and Sandor Martin respectively, and both clearly feel that their upcoming bout is a must-win.

This showed when the pair clashed during an interview at the weekend, where Taylor walked away from the cameras and put an early end to their online pre-fight conference.

Now, with Taylor in New York for what will be his sixth consecutive super lightweight title fight, Moretti explained that Top Rank have decided to spend additional money on security to ensure that no drama will prevent the fight from going ahead.

“There is trash talk and this other thing, but it wasn’t done in person, where they are physically five feet away from the person, where you can get your hands on them.

[Because of] this press conference on Wednesday, we just spent probably another five-thousand on security, because we have got to get to Saturday. So I think that part of it is what is interesting, in that they will physically be together, so let’s see what happens then.

I’m sure that they’re not going to shake hands and hug and [say] ‘how was your trip to New York?’, I don’t expect that to happen.”

Taylor and Lopez are set to meet in the ring on Saturday June 10 in the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

They top the bill with an undercard that features the likes of Xander Zayas, Jamaine Ortiz and Robson Conceicao, in an event that will be available to watch live on Sky Sports for UK viewers and ESPN in the US.