Jas eyeing top spot
JASON EASTON has been tipped to chase Josh Taylor all the way to the top after he won the IBO intercontinental super-lightweight title at the weekend in a brutal scrap with Belgian brawler Steve Jamoye. The Niddrie ace took some heavy hits from his experienced opponent but turned the fight on its head to stop his man in the ninth round. Jamoye had lost only three of his 26 bouts, and been stopped just once, but Easton’s pressure eventually won the day. The 25-yearold has now won two titles in just 10 pro fights and it’s only the
I’m one step closer to where I want to be – which is world champion JOSH TAYLOR MICHAEL GANNON
he hadn’t smashed through the roof of the Braehead Arena.
Taylor said: “With the long build-up, all the talking over social media and the nerves and emotion, at the end it was just pure joy at winning.
“I always knew I could do it. I wasn’t surprised that I won or that I stopped him. But I was so overjoyed as it was the biggest fight of my career. I’m now one step closer to where I want to be – which is world champion.
“I always knew since our first interactions on social media months ago that I could beat him. So I was super-confident and relaxed going into it.
“Normally before a fight I can’t control my breathing due to nerves but I was calm. I almost turned to my trainer Shane McGuigan to say, ‘Should I not be more nervous here? But I didn’t in case he thought that meant I wasn’t switched on. I was just so confident I was going to win.”
Davies wasn’t just cut down to size. Taylor danced in and out of range, landed jabs, planted brutal body shots that looked like they came from a fact Taylor is in the same weight division that’s meant he hasn’t quite had the profile of his Barry McGuigan-backed pal.
But manager Billy Nelson said: “There are some exciting options for Jason. He’s shot up the IBO rankings and has shown he belongs up there with the best of them in this country.
“He did really well although I wasn’t best pleased with the start he made. He can’t afford to take that many shots. But Jamoye was a proper test. He’s not a guy who gets stopped yet Jason did a job on him.
“He’s still got some learning to do but Jason has a huge future.”
Easton was delighted to put on a show at a packed Braehead Arena. He said: “My last two fights ended in the second round and no one had seen me go to the later rounds.
“But they now have witnessed my toughness and willingness to battle.” Meanwhile cruiserweight Stevie Simmons is looking to get back in the title mix following a bruising bash with Lukasz Rusiewicz in which the Pole was disqualified in the
sixth round. 50-fight Mexican warrior than a 10-bout novice from East Lothian.
Davies was doubled over in the third and took an eight count after being clipped on the chin. Taylor ran the show and delivered his finale in the seventh.
He sent his man over with a right hook. Davies got back up but had clearly had enough. He bizarrely shook his head and dropped his guard and the ref stepped in.
Davies quit but fair play, he held his hands up later. He said: “Even though I did say things that are embarrassing now I’ve been beaten, my personality doesn’t change. Boxing is about being an entertainer.
“I’ll take this loss like a man. I was beaten by the better man on the night.”
It won’t be the last time a Taylor opponent says that. This kid is on his way and justifying the hype of his gaffer Barry McGuigan, who labelled his man the new Ken Buchanan from the start.
Barry said: “Now do you believe me? This guy has the credentials to go all the way. He is the real McCoy.”