Teofimo Lopez Outpoints Josh Taylor in Split Decision to Unify Junior Welterweight Titles

Teofimo Lopez realized his dream of becoming an undisputed champion for the second time in his career on Monday night, outpointing Josh Taylor by split decision to unify all four major junior welterweight titles at Madison Square Garden in New York City, though the controversial scorecards left many questioning the outcome.

The 26-year-old Brooklyn native won by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 on two cards, while Taylor took the third scorecard 115-113 in what many observers felt was a much closer fight than the wide margins suggested. Lopez's aggressive style and higher punch output appeared to sway the judges, despite Taylor landing the cleaner, more effective shots throughout much of the contest.

"I'm the undisputed champion again, and nobody can take that away from me," Lopez said during his post-fight interview. "Josh is a great champion and a tough warrior, but I showed tonight that I'm the best junior welterweight in the world. This has been my goal since moving up to 140 pounds, and now I want all the big names - Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, whoever wants it."

Taylor controlled the early rounds with his superior boxing technique and ring IQ, using his jab effectively and landing sharp combinations that consistently found their mark. However, Lopez turned the tide in the middle rounds with sustained pressure and body work that appeared to slow the 33-year-old Scotsman in the championship rounds.

The controversy surrounding the decision stemmed from Taylor's clear work in several rounds that were awarded to Lopez, particularly rounds 4, 7, and 11 where the former undisputed champion appeared to outland and outwork his younger opponent. Many ringside observers scored the fight for Taylor, making Lopez's victory one of the more disputed championship decisions in recent memory.

Lopez's victory makes him just the fifth fighter in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in two different weight classes, joining an elite group that includes Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez. However, the disputed nature of his win may complicate future negotiations for mega-fights, as Taylor's promoter immediately announced intentions to pursue a rematch clause. With the junior welterweight division now unified under one champion, Lopez has positioned himself for potentially career-defining fights against the sport's biggest names.