Taylor Vs. Lopez Sets Record For Viewing Figures, Lopez Enters Pound-For-Pound Rankings

Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez’s viewing figures peaked at 980,000 to make it the most viewed main event for Top Rank this year, as the latter also entered the pound-for-pound rankings.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the average viewing figures for the fight were 945,000 as Lopez beat Taylor by unanimous decision to win the WBO super-lightweight title.

The figures should not come as a surprise, given the pre-fight build-up. Taylor uncharacteristically walked out of an interview, leaving Lopez to face the media alone.

Meanwhile, Lopez also controversially claimed that he would take Taylor’s ‘life’ in the ring and refused to apologize until the post-fight remarks.

And in breaking the record, the Taylor-Lopez fight eclipsed Shakur Stevenson’s 135 lb debut against Shuichiro Yoshino, which drew in peak viewing figures of 871,000.

But that was not the only record set. Lopez’s victory put him on Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings in the top 10 at number nine.

Being a two-division champion has aided those efforts, but if Lopez wants to remain there, then his retirement talk will have to change.

But given that he has not vacated the belt immediately, Lopez is still very much a fighter to look out for.