Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez to battle June 10 at MSG
Combat sports return to New York City when Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) defends his WBO and Ring Magazine titles against former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) Saturday, June 10 at Madison Square Garden’s Theater.
The Brooklyn native Lopez is 7-1 inside Madison Square Garden, suffering his only defeat to George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021, relinquishing his unified titles. Taylor returns to the ring for the first time since February 2022.
“This is a super fight on both sides of the pond, the junior welterweight king in Josh Taylor stepping up against the young, dynamic Teofimo Lopez,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, the fight’s promoter. “I cannot wait for these two supreme talents to step into the Madison Square Garden ring. It’s going to be a special night.”
Puerto Rican rising star and junior middleweight Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) will challenge Ronald Cruz (18-2-1, 12 KOs) in the co-main event. Look for domination out of Zayas, one of the brightest stars at Top Rank.
Two weeks later at the Garden, Edgar Berlanga (20-0 16 KOs), formerly of Top Rank and now with Matchroom, will face Irishman Jason Quigley (20-2 14 KOs). Berlanga is 4-0 at the Garden.
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“I’m excited to be back in my hometown and to perform at the mecca of boxing once again,” said the Brooklyn native. “I want this night to be historic for my fans and for all the people of Puerto Rico and to witness greatness. I feel like I’m reborn again in the sport, signing with Matchroom and getting back to where it all started with my old coach Marc Farrait. I promise it’ll be something big on June 24.”
Berlanga struggled in his last fight, leading to Top Rank not re-signing him. He hopes to put on a big performance under a new promoter.
In the co-main, Reshat Mati (13-0 7 KOs) will face his toughest opponent to date when he steps in the ring against Adam Kownacki (20-3 15 KOs).
At last, undefeated, unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undefeated WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford both posted to social media that they have agreed to a battle on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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