TEOFIMO LOPEZ says other fighters wonโ€™t want to face him after this Saturday night.

โ€˜The Takeoverโ€™ hits New York for his third fight at super-lightweight which comes against champion Josh Taylor 19-0 (13) at Madison Square Garden Theatre.

The 25-year-old returns to the same venue where he lost his unbeaten record and lightweight belts to George Kambosos in November 2021. Lopez then moved to 140lbs and picked up two wins since against Pedro Campa and Sandor Martin. The latter was a revealing night for viewers who watched Lopez question himself and his team if he still had what it takes to compete at the top level.

Lopez 18-1 (13) has been his typical vocal self in the build-up to the Taylor fight and in an interview with FightHub had this to say about criticism that heโ€™s received.

โ€œIโ€™m looking like the person that I need to look like on June 10th. I use that as fuel.โ€

Taylor v Lopez is a potentially thrilling fight and the New Yorker believes this Saturday is an example of the best fighting the best.

โ€œHe beat Regis Prograis, he beat Ivan Baranchyk, and heโ€™s beaten Jose Ramirez. He went and collected all the belts,” he said.

โ€œThe best against the best, and thatโ€™s what boxing is all about. In my eyes, no one has beaten Josh Taylor. Heโ€™s still technically [undisputed], but people will say what theyโ€™re going to say.

โ€œA lot of these fighters talk a good game on the Internet, but in real life, they donโ€™t do it. With the performance that Iโ€™m going to put on against Josh Taylor, itโ€™s going to cause a lot of fighters not to want to face me, even the champions.

โ€œBeating Josh Taylor makes me the kingpin of 140.โ€