Teofimo Lopez claims Josh Taylor fight is in the works, but will Taylor’s mandatories prevent undisputed clash?

Teofimo Lopez has surprisingly claimed that a potential fight with Josh Taylor is in the works to potentially take place next.

The former WBA, WBC ‘franchise’, IBF and WBO lightweight world champion was dethroned of all his belts by George Kambosos Jr last time out.

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Lopez was stunned by the Australian in a massive upset, just a year on from causing one himself when he beat Vasyl Lomachenko.

Now, the 24-year-old American is set to move up to super-lightweight and was expected to return in a bout with Arnold Barboza Jr to get him used to the new division.

Undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super-lightweight champion Taylor said after his controversial win over Jack Catterall in February that he would too be moving up to a new weight class.

However, he is yet to vacate his belts and, at present, remains the king in the division Lopez is entering.

Recently, it emerged that Teofimo was in line for a potential vacant title shot if Taylor dropped the WBO belt.

On an appeal though, the WBO agreed to swap him with Jose Ramirez in the rankings and so he is no longer in this position.

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While discussing whether this obstacle to a potential world title fight annoyed him, Lopez told The Good Fight with Kate Abdo: “I’m gonna get it.

“Whether it’s from the WBO or something else coming up that we’re working on.

“Me fighting for a world title is definitely the next one.

“I look forward to becoming undisputed, again. And then again. My goal is to become a three-time undisputed world champion.

“Three different divisions. 147lbs is another thing I see myself [doing].”

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Lopez then went on to say: “We’re trying to make me and Josh Taylor right now for undisputed.

“It looks like we’re working on some stuff, so we’ll figure it out.

“Don’t hold me accountable of it, I’m hearing from different ends and the main head told me.

“You see how God works. If everything goes the way it does, I was shooting for one thing, the WBO belt, but if God works the way he does then I’ll get all of them in one shot again.”

Despite Lopez’s comments, it still appears as though a fight with Taylor next is unlikely for him, especially for the undisputed title.

Even if the Scot does opt to stay at super-lightweight, he has two ordered mandatories waiting for him in the form of Alberto Puello (WBA) and Jose Zepeda (WBC).