Fighting to make history in front of no fans would be a real body blow
Josh wants noisy Ramirez clash
JOSH TAYLOR is happy to fight in front of no fans this weekend – but reckons it would be a “burst balloon” if the chance to become undisputed world champion was also behind closed doors. The Prestonpans southpaw takes on Apinun Khongsong in London on Saturday as he looks to defend his two super-lightweight belts. If he wins that one, Taylor’s next contest could be against Top Rank stablemate Jose Ramirez who holds the other two world titles in the division. That one could take place this winter at the Hydro in Glasgow or possibly even at Easter Road or Edinburgh Castle next summer. But Taylor said: “We had been hoping the fans would be back by now but it’s not to be. I don’t want to keep my career on hold as I want to keep up the momentum I had built last year.
“I want to get this one done quickly and keep pushing on with my career.
“I went to a closed-doors fight recently, it was actually really good from a spectator’s point of view. There was no one drunk, shouting, screaming and trying to talk to you when you’re trying to tune in to a fight! “You could tune right into it and you forgot there were no fans there. It was quite intense. It was good to be there and see it and feel the atmosphere. “I’d like potentially to fight again in the next three or four months – keep t he ba l l rolling. But if it’s the
Ramirez fight, you would need fans there regardless of where it was.
“When you grow up as a kid dreaming of becoming world champion, you never think there would be a day when you might be fighting for all the belts, especially so early in my career.
“You dream of fighting in America at MGM Grand in front of thousands, Michael Buffer screaming your name. For massive fights you need the fans.
“To do it in front of no one would be like a burst balloon. I’d rather hold off with the Ramirez fight until there are fans there. If we have to do it behind closed doors then we have to.”
Taylor, 30 in January, reckons he’s only really getting started. He added: “I’m coming into my prime. I’ve got plenty of years left in the tank. The fire is still fully lit and I’ll keep pushing on until I’ve achieved all my goals.”