ALL CHANGE
Josh Taylor moves to promotional powerhouse Top Rank as he eyes undisputed battle with Jose Ramirez
Josh Taylor links up with Top Rank and targets the undisputed crown
‘I THINK THE MORE LUCRATIVE FIGHT WILL BE IN VEGAS OR NEW YORK’
THE unified IBF and WBA superlightweight champion Josh Taylor has announced that he will sign with US promotional powerhouse Top Rank. He has also linked up with management company MTK, departing from Cyclone Promotions. His next fight will be screened on ESPN in America.
“Josh Taylor is one of the world’s best fighters and he is a fight fan’s fighter, a tough guy willing to fight anyone we put in front of him,” declared Top Rank chairman Bob Arum (the most powerful man in the sport in the 2019 Boxing
News Power List). “Whether it’s Jose Ramirez in a fight for the undisputed junior-welterweight title or any of the welterweights out there, he’s ready for the biggest challenges. I want to thank Josh’s advisors at MTK Global, who have the same goal as us, which is to make him an international star.”
Former promoter, Cyclone Promotions, expressed disappointment at the Scotsman’s move, saying that “Josh Taylor is under an exclusive worldwide promotional contract” with them. Taylor stated in response: “I terminated my promotional agreement with Cyclone as a result of various breaches of contract including, in particular, breaches relating to a conflict of interest on the part of the promoter. That allowed me to search for a new promoter.”
Taylor’s ultimate ambition has been no secret. He wants that fight with Jose Ramirez, the holder of the WBC and WBO belts, for all four world titles and the undisputed crown. “I would love it to be in Scotland, in Edinburgh Castle,” he previously told Boxing News. “That would be iconic.”
But he noted, “I think the more lucrative fight will be over in the States, Vegas or New York… Go over there and fight for big money, but if we get it in Scotland, happy days.”
Ramirez is fighting Viktor Postol, a former champion and former Josh Taylor victim, on February 1 in China. Naturally the Scotsman is targeting the winner. “I think it’s a good fight. I think Ramirez [wins]. I boxed Postol about 18 months ago. He’s only had two fights since then. I’d expect Ramirez to come through that,” Josh said. “Hopefully he [Postol] has still got plenty of fight left in him but I’d expect Ramirez to come through. If not, the rematch with Postol, why not?
“I don’t think it’ll be a walk in the park but I think [Ramirez] will come through.
“Whoever’s got the belts that’s who I want to fight.” Given that Ramirez is also promoted by Top Rank there should be few obstacles to making a fight between the two.
But while he waits for that showdown, he might well have to make a mandatory defence. The contender for his IBF belt would be Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong, not a glamorous opponent but a must-win nevertheless. “Every fight’s the same,” Taylor said. “Every fight is a world title fight. Especially now that I’m unified champion. Everyone’s going to want to take these belts… It’s up to me to keep them, to keep hold of them, and keep my dreams which is to become undisputed champion.”
It’s impressive though that already, in just 16 professional contests, Taylor has unified world titles. It marks him out as the new star in British boxing and probably, pound-forpound, the finest fighter in the country right now. “Between myself and Callum Smith,” mused Taylor.
“It’s unbelievable,” he continued. “I’m just a wee guy from Prestonpans… Getting invited here, there and everywhere, it’s been brilliant.”
He is following in the footsteps of fellow Scot, boxing legend and near neighbour Ken Buchanan, who dropped by to see Taylor and his titles soon after his victory over Regis Prograis last year. “The first [Scotsman to unify] since Ken Buchanan over 50 years ago, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “Two guys from the same area really… He’s from Edinburgh, I’m from Edinburgh… It’s crazy how similar our stories have been. It’s great.”
If Taylor continues to chase greatness, there are superb, poundfor-pound calibre fighters in Top Rank’s promotional stable. Vasyl Lomachenko is in the division below, although Taylor does not expect him to move up another weight class. Taylor previously told Boxing News how he “was supposed to fight him [Lomachenko] in the WSB [as an amateur]. I had to pull out because I smashed my hand up, I broke my hand against [Domenico] Valentino… I wanted to fight him but you can’t fight a guy like that with one hand.
“You can’t stand off him because he comes at you and changes his angles. [You’ve got to] go at him and f**king push him. Really just break him down, just go for him and keep on top of him. You’ve got to be physical with him, use the size, the strength, get on top of him and just keep breaking him down really. I was up for it.”
Terence Crawford, the world’s leading welterweight, is also promoted by Top Rank. He is a more realistic opponent for Taylor in the long run should the Scot move up to 147lbs. Taylor has a healthy respect for Crawford. “He can do it all, he can box on the backfoot, he can box coming forward. He is effective at both orthodox and southpaw, just as fluent. He can think. He’s a good thinker in there. He punches hard and he can box as well. He’s got it all,” Josh said.
“I’ll fight anybody,” he added cheerfully. “I’ll fight my own shadow.”