Risk and reward
Taylor takes his chance against dangerous rival
This is the final hurdle before he gets to fight for a world title
THERE is risk. And there is jeopardy. All worth it, as Josh Taylor closes in on that coveted crack at a world title.
Boxing legend Barry McGuigan, Taylor’s promoter, last night admitted that he was taking a chance by putting the Prestonpans puncher in the ring with former world champion Viktor Postol next month.
Postol jetted into Glasgow for a media conference yesterday, looking trim and sounding fearsome as he insisted that his vastly superior experience would give him the edge at the SSE Hydro on June 23.
The winner of that bout should automatically earn a crack at the WBC super-lightweight belt — currently held by Jose Ramirez, who faces a battle to keep it from Regis Prograis.
Postol has lost only one of his 30 bouts, succumbing to the brilliance of Terence Crawford — ranked by Taylor as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet — to lose the WBC title two years ago.
With Crawford now moved up a weight, the battle is on to decide who will dominate the division.
McGuigan admitted that just taking this fight exposes relative rookie Taylor to fresh dangers, confessing: ‘It is a risk. Because Josh has only had 12 professional fights — and this guy is a sensational fighter.
‘And the guy who beat him is arguably one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
‘It is fair to say Viktor Postol is the most talented fighter that has been here in Scotland since Terence Crawford.
‘So there is some jeopardy, we know that. But these are the kind of risks you need to take to get to a world-title fight.
‘And I am 100-per-cent confident that this guy has what it takes. This is the most important fight of Josh’s career, the final hurdle before he gets to fight for the world title.’
Postol, who looks like a mini Wladimir Kiltschko, was all smiles with Taylor yesterday; there is clearly a great mutual respect between the two fighters.
But the 34-year-old is adamant that, having been in the ring with real world class, he won’t be troubled by even an exciting new contender in the ten-stone division.
‘Of course I’ve seen film of Taylor fighting,’ said Postol. ‘He’s a good opponent. I can’t say that I saw any particular weaknesses.
‘But I will also say that I didn’t see anything spectacular.
‘The only concern is that I will be fighting in his home town, which is not an advantage.
‘But, apart from that, there is nothing to fear.
‘Experience will definitely count in my favour, absolutely. I’ve had 35 fights, Josh has only fought 12 times — so I’m going to use all of my experience to gain an advantage in this fight.
‘In my first fight in California, against Selcuk Aydin, in The Forum, there were 17,000 people in the arena on fight night.
‘I beat Aydin by KO — and all the fans ended up rooting for me. It was a great experience.’
Postol has abandoned his usual pre-fight routine of holding a training camp in Los Angeles, returning instead to Ukraine because it’s closer to Scotland.
It’ll mean a little extra attention. And more than a few fans pointing out his facial similarity to former world heavyweight champ Klitschko.
‘Yeah, I get told all the time that I look like Klitschko,’ said a grinning Postol yesterday. ‘And of course he’s a hero of mine.
‘Actually, Klitschko has worked with the trainer who is now working with me.
‘I’ve not spent much time with Klitschko because he’s very busy now. But, whenever he comes to my city, we meet.
‘The first secret to Ukrainian boxing success is hard work. And more hard work.
‘It all begins by aiming for the Olympic gold. If they don’t get that, then they turn professional and try to realise their dreams in the pro ranks.
‘I never got to the Olympics but I decided to turn pro — and I became world champion.’
Insisting that losing the WBC title to Crawford — who famously ran rings around Scotland’s own Ricky Burns in Glasgow back in 2014 — in his first defence was no great source of lasting anguish,
Postol explained: ‘The main goal for me was to fight against the very best.
‘I fought Terence Crawford, who is one of the very best, and that’s what I always wanted to do.
‘Crawford has moved up already and, of the fighters left in the division, I feel I am strong.
‘But the best in the division? I have to beat Josh Taylor first, then we will see.
‘Whoever wins this fight will definitely be the best in the division.’
And what of Taylor himself? Safe to say he is fired up for the bout already, declaring: ‘If I get through this on fight night, I will be knocking on the door of a world title.
‘There is absolutely no way I am going to let this opportunity slip.’