Josh Taylor says ‘crybaby’ Jack Catterall can wait as WBO orders Teofimo Lopez’s mandatory title defense | box news
Josh Taylor says ‘crybaby’ Jack Catterall can wait as WBO orders Teofimo Lopez’s mandatory title defense | box news
#Josh #Taylor #crybaby #Jack #Catterall #wait #WBO #orders #Teofimo #Lopezs #mandatory #title #defense #box #news Welcome to InNewCL, here is the new story we have for you today:
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Josh Taylor, the WBO super lightweight champion, has dismissed claims he is avoiding a rematch with Jack Catterall.
After their highly controversial first bout, Scotland’s Taylor was ready to box his great rival again.
However, a torn plantar fascia tendon in his heel just before a rematch could be announced put the much-anticipated second fight on hold.
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Josh Taylor says he can’t set a timeline for when his rematch with Jack Catterall will take place as he continues to recover from his injury.
Now the WBO has pointed out that Taylor must defend his title against American star Teofimo Lopez.
“I’ve become uncontested and I’m fighting in the streets. To say I’m scared [of Catterall] is ridiculous,” Taylor told InNewCL Sports. “I’m just laughing.
“There was no one more than me who wanted to set that right. But it will happen.”
Taylor held all four major 140lb titles but to ensure the Catterall rematch happened he vacated three of those belts so he wouldn’t be distracted by other mandatory challenges.
Then the injury struck. “I did it on the Monday of the Chris Eubank vs Liam Smith fight [week]. I did it in sparring. I just felt a pop and a tear and just excruciating pain,” he explained.
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Promoter Ben Shalom is delighted to have Lawrence Okolie back on InNewCL Sports and provides an update on the rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
“I immediately stopped sparring, took off the boot and it was red and raw and my wound was swollen and inflamed. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and had an examination on Wednesday. I got the results back on Thursday and that was a really bad injury, a complete tear.
“My foot was immobilized. It was pretty bad. You’re up for at least six to seven weeks.”
The Scot had been determined to “put away all the doubts that were there” after claiming victory after a first fight which many thought Catterall had overcome.
“[I was ready to] move on with my career and then this happens. It’s one of those things that happens and I just have to go with the punches.
“I’m disappointed,” said Taylor. “We were just about to announce the fight at the Liam Smith fight. I was quite disappointed, I gave up a lot and sacrificed a lot to make this fight possible and vacated my titles to make it happen.”
However, this intervention by the WBO changed his plans.
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Extended highlights from Josh Taylor’s controversial split decision win over Jack Catterall.
Lopez was a unified lightweight champion, rising to 140 pounds after losing the WBO, IBF, and WBA belts to George Kambosos. He has won twice in his new division, stopping Pedro Campa and then passing Sandor Martin by a split decision.
WBO Chairman Luis Batista Salas outlined the terms of the bout in an official letter, which read: “Following the recent postponement of Josh Taylor-Jack Catterall’s voluntary title defense at the WBO, the WBO World Championship Committee hereby orders the inclusion of Negotiations on for mandatory junior welterweight title defense between Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez.
“The camps contained herein are granted 10 days after the publication of this notice to reach an agreement or pursue a purse bid process under the WBO Rules for World Championship Competitions.
“The minimum bid for junior welterweight is $150,000. Any of the parties involved can request a purse bid ceremony at any time during the negotiation process.”
Image: The WBO has now hired Josh Taylor to defend himself against Teofimo Lopez.
“They ordered me to fight Teofimo Lopez. That’s one I want to do, it’s the only belt I have left, the WBO, so I want to keep it,” Taylor said.
“If I went and then fought Jack, I would fight him without a title. I want to keep the title. Those are all my belts, but I want to keep this one,” he said. “I will fight it.”
“Going forward, Jack and I can still fight. I don’t know what will happen now. I definitely will [but] It’s out of my control, it’s not my fault the WBO got in touch,” he said.
PICTURED: Jack Catterall throws a left at Josh Taylor in their controversial fight
“At the end of the day, it’s out of my control. This fight is a much bigger fight than the Catterall fight. It’s a much bigger fight and a tougher fight. He’s a much higher caliber opponent, he was at a higher level, he was with better fighters. He did the business and got the t-shirt. I think it’s a better fight.
The rivalry between Taylor and Catterall remains as fierce as ever. “It’s a little bit cranky. He made it a little bit personal,” said the WBO champion.
“The way he and his team cry about it and moan like little kids. They’re moaning crybabies, bad losers for what they are.
“I don’t think Jack Catterall is going anywhere.
“He’ll get a chance to rectify it, but I highly doubt he’ll come anywhere near me.”
