BOTH Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez come into the bout, which takes place in the early hours of tomorrow (Sunday) morning UK time, with their own points to prove.
Neither man was at their best in their last bout as Taylor took a decision victory over Jack Catterall while Lopez did the same against Sandor Martin.
That said, expect different fighters this time around as both look to show exactly why they have held multiple belts.
Taylor was training in Liverpool before flying over to America for the bout in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The venue has welcomed numerous world champions from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier to Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
Taylor, who grew up in Prestonpans before moving to Haddington, previously told Courier Sport what it meant to fight in the historic venue.
Speaking earlier this year before the venue was confirmed, he said: “The prospect of the fight being there is unbelievable for me.
“I always said when I was a kid that one day I would be fighting there.
“It is the Mecca of boxing and another one off the bucket list.
“All the big names have fought there, all the iconic names and all the legends of the sport.
“I said to my mum and dad that I was going to be world champion and I was going to box at Madison Square Garden. It is brilliant – another ‘pinch-me’ moment.”
Meanwhile, Brooklyn-born Lopez is no stranger to the building.
Almost half of his 19 professional bouts have been in New York and it was there that he fought Martin in December last year.
Record
Josh Taylor 19 (13 KO) – 0
W – Jack Catterall (SD) at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, on February 26, 2022
W – Jose Carlos Ramirez (UD) at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Las Vegas, on May 22, 2021
W – Apinun Khongsong (KO) at York Hall, London, on September 26, 2020
W – Regis Prograis (MD) at O2 Arena, London, on October 26, 2019
W – Ivan Baranchyk (UD) at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, on May 18, 2019
Teofimo Lopez 18 (13 KO) – 1
W – Sandor Martin (SD) at Madison Square Garden, New York, on December 10, 2022
W – Pedro Campa (TKO) at Resorts World Las Vegas, Las Vegas, on August 13, 2022
L – George Kambosos Jr (SD) at Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, on November 27, 2021
W – Vasyl Lomachenko (UD) at The Bubble, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on October 17, 2020
W – Richard Commey (TKO) at Madison Square Garden, New York, on December 14, 2012
Belts won
Josh Taylor
- Commonwealth Light-Welterweight title
- WBC Silver Light-Welterweight title
- IBF Light-Welterweight title
- WBA (Super) Light-Welterweight title
- The Ring Light-Welterweight title
- WBC Light-Welterweight title
- WBO Light-Welterweight title
Teofimo Lopez
- WBC Continental Americas Lightweight title
- WBA-NABA Lightweight title
- WBC-NABF Lightweight title
- IBF-USBA Lightweight title
- IBF Lightweight title
- WBA (Super) Lightweight title
- WBO Lightweight title
- The Ring Lightweight title
- WBC-NABF Light-Welterweight title
- WBO International Light-Welterweight title
Where and when can I watch the fight?
It will be an early rise – or a late night – for any of Taylor’s East Lothian fans.
The undercard in New York City is due to start at 1am BST, with the main event ring walks getting under way at 4am.
All the fight will be on Sky Sports.
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