I’m going to batter Teofimo Lopez to make him pay for his sick comments, says Josh Taylor before world title showdown

JOSH TAYLOR wants to get Teofimo Lopez to quit after the American said he hopes to KILL the Scottish star.

Tartan Tornado, 32, has brought his WBO super lightweight world title to Madison Square Garden to defend against the loudmouth, who refused to apologize for his sick threat.

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The unbeaten brave somehow kept a cool head in the face of the abysmal trash talk.

But the recently married star vows he’s out to get revenge on the seemingly troubled challenger with his croaking southpaw and brutal left power punch.

Ahead of Saturday night’s showdown, he explained, “All it does is make me feel even more fire in my stomach and more wanting to give him a proper pie and really hurt him.”

“I really didn’t need any motivation for this fight but after what he said I want to punish him and he will have to pay for what he said.

“As long as it lasts it’s going to be great fun, but I think I’ll stop it.

“I think I’ll let him sit in his chair so he can retreat from the precise punches that are going to destroy him so much.”

Taylor’s hero Ken Buchanan – perhaps Scotland’s greatest fighter of all time – sadly passed away on April 1st.

And in his first fight since the sad defeat, Taylor will pay a special tribute to his legendary mentor, who gave him great advice – but also inspiration – and followed an almost identical path.

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He said: “I’ve known Ken very well since I was a young lad of about 18 years old.

“He came into the gym where I was training and gave me tips on how to live in and out of the ring and do my best.

“He told me great stories from when he was headlining Madison Square Garden and even had Muhammad Ali come and ask him if he could share the dressing room.

“Ken agreed, but he drew a line in the middle of the room and told him, ‘This is your side, this is my side.'”

“He was a real legend of a man and – in my opinion – one of the greatest in Scotland and Britain to ever do it.

“If I win this, it will be a great story to tell my future children and grandchildren. I will be able to tell them that I did what one of Scotland’s greatest ever did and that I now have a small place by his side.

“I couldn’t attend his funeral, so my fight shorts are a tribute to the ones he wore to Madison Square Garden. It’s one of the ways I can show my respect to him.”