Teofimo Lopez Says ‘Body Shots’ Were Key To Beating Josh Taylor

Teofimo Lopez says body shots were a big reason why he beat Josh Taylor.

Lopez was the betting underdog but he used body shots to really take over the fight and win a clear-cut decision. After the win, Lopez shockingly retired from boxing but looking back on the fight, he said his mindset was Taylor wasn’t good and that ended up paying dividends.

“Roy Jones Jr. once said, it’s not that these guys are not good, it’s just that we make it look easy,” Lopez said on The Porter Way Podcast (h/t BoxingScene). “So, you know, it’s just really that. Body shot, that’s what I focused on. I know how to break him down, somehow, some way. Towards mid-way of the fight, I was like, I gotta start slowing him down, so let me go to the body and attack more. And it made it much easier for me.”

Although Teofimo Lopez won the fight with ease, he is disappointed he didn’t get the stoppage win. Yet, Lopez says he tried to stop Taylor but says the champ knew how to survive.

“I went for it when I had to. Taylor’s a big guy. He knows how to survive because of his experience. I think he was going in that ring at like 165 [pounds], big boy. I tried to crack him and everything but he knew how to survive. He knew how to clinch. He was holding on for dear life. But that comes with the experience that these guys have. They’re vets,” Lopez said.

Were you surprised Teofimo Lopez beat Josh Taylor?