Fuck The Canadian Wildfires... The Tartan Tornado Just Blew Into Town
I've been lucky enough to talk with a TON of fighters over the past couple of years (thanks, Dave), but it never ceases to amaze me how deadly these small guys are.
I spoke with Josh Taylor on Monday... He's in NYC promoting his fight in MSG tomorrow night versus Teofimo Lopez. And after the interview, I asked him where he was now weight-wise versus where he is when he's not fighting. Winds up, he walks around at 160 pounds but was already comfortably at 140 before today's weigh-in.
That's half my weight... That's too small for me to date... That's what I weighed in the Fourth Grade.
Did I mention I have always been fat?
And yet, Taylor would've made quick work out of me if push came to shove.
Felt like I needed to express that in this blog.
Outside of the fact(s) that I am morbidly obese and utterly defenseless, I should also mention the 135-147 lb weight classes in boxing are the hottest in the sport, and tomorrow's bout will show us who is the man-to-beat smack dab in the middle of it all… Scotland's "The Tartan Tornado" Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) defends his WBO and The Ring light-welterweight titles against the former unified lightweight champ, Brooklyn's Teofimo "The Takeover" Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) in Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theatre.
The lines have moved a little on this one, I locked Josh in at -165 last week, but the Barstool Sportsbook currently has Taylor -210. I still think it's worth a (responsible) gamble. Their respective stories are too long to tell, but this is a coin-toss fight depending on which Josh Taylor we see in the ring on Saturday after his last questionable decision win and subsequent long layoff against a Teofimo Lopez who sometimes beats himself mentally before even stepping into the ring.
Coverage begins at 8 PM EST on ESPN and ESPN+, I will be in attendance (thanks, TopRank), and for anyone looking to have a couple of pops beforehand, I will be at Jack Doyle's with Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri.
Enjoy the fights and take a report.
-Large