Despite being the man who’s just recently up a division, Teofimo struggled more than Josh Taylor to make weight ahead of their world title fight in New York.
Rumour was that the 45 minute delay was due to Lopez struggle to hit the magic 140lbs, and when he took to the scales he went straight for the no clothes and towel option.
He made the limit on the button, but was met with chants from the Scottish fans of ‘you fat b***ard.’ His father and trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr, gave them the middle finger.
Taylor, sporting his kilt, weighed in at 139.8lbs and looked more comfortable doing so than his last effort on the scales fifteen months ago.
The Tartan Tornado ready to go 🌪️@JoshTaylorBoxer x #TaylorLopezpic.twitter.com/UlzrXC1rag
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 9, 2023
It was revealed earlier in the week that the promotion was to spend five thousand dollars on extra security as a pre-emptive measure given the animosity between the fighters. Just like the final presser, there was no real face off.
All that’s left now is the fight – and it’s a wildly intriguing one.
Taylor has made no secret about being tight at the weight with a desire to move up to 147 in the future, so how might his performance influence that decision? He’s made it well this time around, and a win could see him continue to defend his title and push back plans for a welterweight campaign further.
First of all, he needs to look good on the main stage come Saturday night after over a year out of the ring following his contentious decision win over Jack Catterall – something he’s so far been unable to rectify with a rematch. He will enter the ring the bookmakers’ favourite to keep hold of his WBO title.
Lopez is a newbie at super-lightweight, and doesn’t have the same size advantage that he did when he was unified champion at 135, but being borderline on the scales was a bit of a shock.
Questions around his mentality were asked after his loss to George Kambosos Jr, and have hung around until now. He’ll be looking for a statement performance just around the corner from his hometown to silence his doubters and resume a career that once had so much hype.