Former undisputed super-lightweight champion, Josh Taylor, is still in the process of organising his future in the sport following his points defeat to Teofimo Lopez in June which saw him become dethroned of his WBO world title in the process.
Lopez (19-1) would pick up a unanimous points win over Taylor at Madison Square Garden, NY, despite being the underdog and failing to produce a performance of note following his win over Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020.
Taylor (19-1) previously held the WBC, WBA and IBF world titles before his defeat to Lopez in June. However, Taylor relinquished those titles voluntarily after his narrow points win in February of 2022 against Jack Catterall.
Taylor has plans to link up with trainer Joe McNally, who recently became the trainer to Taylor after Taylor decided to split from previous trainer Ben Davison. McNally was Taylor’s trainer for the contest with Lopez earlier this year.
Taylor admits that his boxing future will likely see him make the jump up to the welterweight division and return to the ring in December or January.
“If I am staying at the same weight, then the next couple of fights won’t be championship weight. But if I do move up, then I’ll have a couple of fights and then hopefully get another crack at a world title,” Taylor told the Edinburgh Evening News.
“I’m still very much in love with the sport, so I still feel there is more to give. That passion hasn’t gone away. I need to get my toes wet again and then chase a couple of big fights. I’m still performing at the top level; I’m not being outclassed. I’ll hang the gloves up when I feel I am past my best. If I do move up to welter, there will be no going back to super light.
“I’m heading back down to Liverpool to sit down with the team and see what we’re going to do and see what options there are opponents-wise. I think moving up is probably the wisest option because I still want to become a two-weight world champion. I can fight Jack Catterall later on at a weight that suits me. Nothing has changed on that front; that fight will happen. I’ve said to Top Rank about getting a rematch with Lopez, too, in the future.
“I want to be out again before the end of the year, hopefully December, but it now might be January. It will definitely be back in Scotland.”
