JOSH TAYLOR had to be physically held back by police as he and rival Teo Lopez weighed in for their super-lightweight showdown this weekend.
Scots boxer Taylor, 32, will go head-to-head with American Lopez at the iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez square up during their pre-fight press conference
Taylor wore his Scotland top for the occasion
The Prestonpans man will be defending his WBO and The Ring belts in New York, as well as putting his undefeated 19-0 record on the line.
Taylor won his last bout in controversial fashion against Jack Catterall in Glasgow, and after pulling out of the rematch injured he vacated the WBA (Super), WBC and IBF titles he had previously unified when he beat Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas.
Brooklyn-born Lopez, 25, sparked a war of words by claiming he wants to KILL Taylor.
The former lightweight champ rolled out one of the legendary Mike Tyson’s famous phrases, as he boasted: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
But Taylor – decked out in a Scotland away top – fired back: “There you go with Tyson again. Clown. Have you got any phrases of your own?
“As a kid then as a pro you dream of coming to venues like this.
“It’s the mecca of boxing and I’m topping the bill with the Tartan Army over too. It’s brilliant. This clown is in my way and will just be another piece of cannon fodder.”
After press conference, both fighters posed for pictures and it was at that point things turned more sour.
Taylor had a pop at Lopez only to be forcibly held back by a policeman that stood between the two men.
Lopez initially just stared and smiled, before they both fired some verbal shots at one another.
Taylor could later be seen gesturing to the officer “I’m just talking.”
After a brief lull, things kicked off again and they tried to get into each other’s faces before security quickly stepped in.
The ill feeling was clear, with Taylor determined to put on a show to prove the critics wrong following his dubious win over Catterall last time out.
He said: “There’s genuine dislike. He’s been disrespectful and I’ll make him pay for his words.
“I can’t wait to get in there. Then you’ll see a Josh Taylor win, a KO nice and early too.”
Lopez is also fighting on the back of a below-par performance last time out. In December he won a split decision over Sandor Martin after surviving a second round knockdown.
Taylor, 32, said: “We can both go on previous performances but I believe that’s a lot of s**t. I prepared crap for my last fight and I performed crap.
“I believe he was the same – he took his eye off ball and performed crap. So we have the bit between our teeth.
“He’s up against the king. I know he’s a good fighter and the version who fought Vasyl Lomachenko is a good fighter.
“I’ve prepared diligently and you’ll see the best of me.”
The hot weather in the Big Apple hasn’t materialised with the US capital cloaked in a cloudstorm earlier this week.
Taylor added: “I came over early to get used to the heat but it’s not been hot. Being Scottish I’m used to the cold so I haven’t had to adjust.
“I was out walking in Times Square when the cloudstorm came over. It was quite cool and I got some good photos.”
Looking at Taylor, Lopez, added: “I have a new phrase – aim for death because that’s where life begins. Everyone is scared of death but if I die it’s doing something that means something and lasts forever.
“That’s what greats are about. That’s something you don’t really know. I’m ready to take over and put a show on for everyone.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to throw an emu jab
This guide will show you how to throw a jab.
- Step forward with both feet.
- Raise your arm above your shoulder.
- Place your fist on the target.
- After hitting your target you should swing your arm up.
- Repeat steps 1 to 4.
What is the maximum number of punches a person can take?
A punch is “a blow delivered from the fist”. A punch can only be taken once per person. If someone punches you in the face you are being punched. You can’t hit him/her in the back. It would be impossible to hit him/her back with two punches.
How much weight do I need to lift for a good workout?
For strength improvement, weight lifting is an essential part of your fitness routine. However, there are certain guidelines you should keep in mind when lifting weights. Don’t do it too often. Aim to lift heavierweights every other days. Third, you should do 8 repetitions of each exercise. Fourth, take a break between sets for 2 minutes. Fifth, perform all exercises without using momentum. And finally, focus on form rather than speed.
What are the benefits to learning how to box?
These are the reasons you need to learn how box.
- It builds confidence. You will be able to confront bullies and other bullies by learning to box.
- It improves your health. Boxing is good for building muscle mass. Muscle mass can make you stronger.
- It teaches self defense skills. When you learn how to fight, you learn how to protect yourself.
- It increases your mental toughness. Mental toughness is important when you’re facing challenges.
- It can give you a feeling of accomplishment. Once you’ve mastered a certain technique, you’ll feel like a real boxer.
- It’s fun! Nothing is better than being punched in the stomach.
- It’s cheap. You only need a pair boxing gloves and punching bag.
- It doesn’t require much space
What are some ways I can improve my combat defense?
Learn how to fight smart and you can improve your fighting defense. You need to know how defense against attacks from every angle is possible, as well how to counterattack in case of emergency.
If you don’t fight well, you will not be able to handle any situation. You’ll just get beaten up. If you know how to fight you will be ready for anything.
Here are some tips to help you improve your defense:
- You must understand where your opponent’s attacks are coming from. This means that you need to pay close attention and observe your opponent’s body language. If he appears nervous, it could indicate that he is about to launch his next attack.
- Stay calm. Don’t panic. Instead, stay focused and relaxed.
- Block with your arms. Blocking with your arms is a simple but effective way to defend yourself against attacks.
- Counterattack. If you see your opponent attacking you, then you need to counterattack immediately.
- Fight dirty. Fight dirty. If you are being kicked by your opponent, you can respond by kick him back.
Statistics
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
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How To
Here are some basic skills in boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is the most loved sport in the world. It is a fight between two opponents. Boxing rules vary from one country or another. In general, there are three types of boxing; Amateur, Professional and Olympic boxing.
Amateur boxing is usually practiced at school, college or university. This type of boxing allows sparring without protection. Amateur boxing competitions usually last three rounds and last five minutes each. There are many types of amateur boxing: Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Taekwondo.
Boxing is often practiced in gyms or clubs. They wear protective equipment such as mouthpiece, nose guard, shin guards, elbow pads, knee pads, waist belt and groin protector. Professional boxing competitions consist of six rounds lasting four minutes each. There are several different styles of professional boxing including Boxing, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and others.
Olympic boxing takes place at the Olympics. International standards require that boxers use special protective gear. Each round lasts three minutes and is made up of eight rounds. There are only two styles of Olympic boxing; Light Flyweight and Heavyweight.
These are the basic skills required to box.
- Punching techniques
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Movement of the body
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spares
Punching Techniques
There are seven kinds of punches: Left Hook, Right Hook, Uppercut, Cross, Straight, Overhand and Underhand. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches need more power than others. An uppercut, for instance, requires tremendous strength. A straight punch, on the other hand requires less power and is quicker than other punches.
There are many combinations of punches. These are combinations made up of several punches that can be used together to achieve one goal. An entire combination could have several parts. An example of this is a left hook, followed by a right crossing. This will damage the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
Boxers protect themselves by protecting their bodies. He uses his arms, legs, elbows, knees, knees, and feet to do this.
Legs
Boxers should use the legs to protect themselves against kicks. After receiving a kick, he will raise his leg and move away from the attacker. To avoid being kicked on his side, he will bend his knees if the attack is from the front. But if the attack comes in the back, he will stand straight and block the kick using his foot.
Elbows
Because they cause great pain, elbow strikes are extremely effective. You can deliver an elbow strike directly or indirectly. Directly refers to hitting your opponent with the forearm, while indirect means you hit him using another part of your arms.
Hands
Boxers use the power of their hands to block any incoming blows. Boxers raise their fists to block incoming blows and then move in the direction of the attacker’s attack. They then touch the attackers fist.
Knees
Boxers should bend their knees when receiving blows to the abdomen, stomach, or chest. Knee strikes can be used to defend yourself.
Feet
If he is being attacked, a boxer must take a step back and counter-attack. This way, he can gain distance between himself and his opponent. Additionally, boxers need to maintain their balance when they counter-attack.
Stances
Boxing is only possible if a boxer has a clear stance. How he defends his self will depend on how he stances. It defines where he faces his opponent and how he positions his body. There are many stances available to boxers. Here are some of the more popular ones:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Body Movement
To win a fight, a fighter must move around the opponent. This requires changing your position, speed, and rhythm.
Rotation
Rotating his arm to increase the puncher’s reach is a key part of boxing. Depending on what punch is being thrown, the speed of rotation varies.
Combinations
The timing of each individual punch affects the effectiveness or failure of a combination. A combination that is effective starts with a strong punch, and ends with one that is weak.
Spare parts
Sparring is a form of boxing that aims to improve your skills. Sparring is a training session that helps a boxer train his mind and body. Sparring is a way to learn how to fight without getting hurt.
To sum it all, boxing requires patience and dedication. Boxing is a sport that requires dedication and perseverance.
