JOSH TAYLOR insists he has not ducked out of the Jack Catterall rematch — and labelled his spurned nemesis a ‘cry baby’.
Taylor, 32, retained his four super-lightweight world titles last February with a controversial points win.
But the rerun has just been cancelled for a third time, with the Tartan Tornado blaming a foot injury.
And he now looks set to accept the WBO mandatory challenge — for the one belt he was not forced to vacate — from 25-year-old Teofimo Lopez.
Catterall and Taylor were pulled apart when the third date was scrapped last month so there is enough bad blood for it to be revisited soon.
Undefeated Taylor said: “I had given up and sacrificed a lot to make that fight happen.
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“I had vacated my titles to make this happen and been offered bigger and better fights but said no.
“I wanted to put all that doubt about me to bed and move on with my career and then the injury happened.
“It was out of my control and I just have to roll with the punches.”
Chorley southpaw Catterall, 29, accused Taylor of running scared.
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But Taylor, who is 19-0, said: “I became undisputed world champion on the road. I went to America to win the last of the belts.
“To say I am afraid of anyone is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
“The way he and his team are moaning and crying about it, they are just moaning cry babies, they are sore losers.
“I am sure he will get the chance to rectify it one day but I highly doubt that he will get anywhere near me.”
Taylor added: “Lopez is a huge fight.
“He is a big character with a lot to say and he has been shouting my name out for a long time.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
