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.
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.
Most read in Boxing
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.
Read more on The Sun
“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.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
