CRITICS WEIGH ON SAUNDERS
SAUNDERS v ISUFI BOXING TAYLOR v BARANCHYK
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS claims he will not get the praise due if he becomes a two-weight world champ tonight as powerful figures in boxing dislike him.
He moves up a division to face Shefat Isufi for the vacant WBO supermiddleweight crown in Stevenage. He lost his WBO middleweight belt for failing a drugs test before a planned defence in Boston. The out-of-competition positive test would not have mattered in the UK. “I don’t think I’ll get the credit I deserve if I win as you’ll always get the negative side,” said Saunders (above left, with Isufi at the weigh-in). “When big money’s involved a few people have a big say in the boxing world. I think I was caught up in that.” JOSH TAYLOR has warned Ivan Baranchyk even the legendary Freddie Roach will not save him from defeat tonight.
Taylor challenges Baranchyk in Glasgow in the semi-finals of the
World Boxing Super Series.
And the IBF light-welterweight champ from Belarus has been trained by Roach (above). Taylor MATT FITZPATRICK went 10 shots better than his first round at the US PGA – and then claimed he felt like he had played the same.
The Ryder Cup star followed his opening birdie-free 75 with a 65 – which included a run of four consecutive birdies at the start of his second nine – to move back to level par.
“It didn’t feel that different – I just made putts,” claimed the former US Amateur champion (above).
“I looked at my stats. I probably drove it a fraction better, but actually my approach play was only one shot better. So actually not too much different, tee to green, just made the putts.” The Sheffield star, who took 28 putts yesterday after 31 in his first round, was ranked tied-121st for driving distance at the end of his round.
But the 24-year-old hit 15 out of 18 greens in regulation yesterday – and made three sand saves – and insisted he liked the challenge of tackling a tough course.
“They suit my game a little more,” Fitzpatrick said. “You can’t get away with anything 40 yards offline.”
TAYLOR: ROACH WRONG
insists he will win and become Edinburgh’s first world champion since mighty Ken Buchanan. He said: “Seven weeks with Freddie Roach is not enough time.
“If anything it’s a bit of a disadvantage. It’s not long enough to link up with a new trainer and to get to know him – and for him to know your strengths and weaknesses.” THIS is what Josh Taylor dreamed about during an amateur career spanning 200 bouts – and why he left his home in Scotland to train in London as a pro.
Every kid who steps across the ropes wants to see his name in lights. Few get anywhere near it. Tonight Taylor realises his dream fighting for a world title against Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow.
Not only is Baranchyk’s IBF super lightweight title on the line, the winner faces America’s WBA champion Regis Prograis in a unification bout to become the inaugural winner of the World Boxing Super Series.
This is only Taylor’s 15th fight. I had already fought 27 times before stepping up against Eusebio Pedroza to win the WBA featherweight crown in 1985. Like Taylor I had been a pro four years, but those were different times.
Baranchyk, 26, is a bull of a fighter. You know what you are going to get with him. He just walks you down looking for the big finish.
As he showed in getting rid of Anthony Yigit in seven rounds last time out, he is a dangerous operator and good at what he does.
Taylor, 28, knows what to expect, but unlike Baranchyk he has two ways of fighting.
And that is what I believe makes the difference in this fight.
I’m sure Baranchyk (with Taylor, above) would have preferred not to fight on his opponent’s turf, but as a Belarussian based in the United States he is used to fighting on the road.
There’s no doubt that Baranchyk is Taylor’s most dangerous opponent. He believes he has too much fire power and will overwhelm Taylor (left) in front of his own people.
The key for Taylor is not to trade early on, but to bide his time, wait for the opening then get the job done.
Taylor has been told all his career he can not punch, yet here he is with 12 KOs in 14 fights.
He is a sharp hitter with excellent timing and accuracy.
Baranchyk is aggressive but not the most technically adept.
When Taylor starts to really hold his feet and pinch his toes into the canvas in the second half of the fight Baranchyk will be in trouble.
I see Taylor outboxing him before forcing a late stoppage to prove what an incredible talent his is – the best in Scotland I believe since the great Ken Buchanan.