TAYLOR’S TIME TO BELT UP!
Two world titles in sight
JOSH TAYLOR insists he is on the fast-track to success as he finds himself just three fights from becoming the unified IBF and WBA world super-lightweight champion.
Some questioned the wisdom of promoter Barry McGuigan enrolling the 27-year-old Scot in the World Boxing Super Series when he could just as easily have been aimed in the direction of one world title bout against WBC champion Jose Ramirez.
But Taylor goes into tonight’s quarter-final at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro against another undefeated American, Ryan Martin, believing that destiny beckons.
Taylor is odds-on to advance to the semi-final. Should he win the tournament, he will pick up the IBF and WBA belts currently held by Belarusians Ivan Baranchyk and Kiryl Relikh en route.
‘I don’t see this as me taking a risk. It’s an opportunity to be a multiple world champion sooner than I had hoped,’ said Taylor, who turned pro after his Commonwealth gold in 2014. ‘I’m not money-motivated — I’m motivated by winning titles.
‘Yes, these are real 50-50 fights. But I’m confident of winning every one. In boxing it can take years to get two belts. This way, I can get two in two fights.
‘So that speeds up the process of what I want to achieve. It’s a no-brainer, being in these fights.
‘I could be ruling the division in the next year or two years and also realise my dream of being the undisputed world champion in the space of 18 months.’
But Taylor, 9st 13lbs at the weigh-in yesterday — three ounces lighter than his opponent — knows he can only deal with one fight at a time. ‘I’m very focused on what’s directly in front of me,’ he insisted.
McGuigan, who expects Taylor to be fully tested by Martin this evening, says he weighed up the pros and cons of a Ramirez bout, and felt it would be a greater risk to the Scot’s progress. Especially given that Ramirez’s TV deal in the States would likely mean the fight would take place there.
‘Josh would’ve been up for it and we’d have been confident he would’ve won,’ said the Irish legend. ‘But he wouldn’t have been given any favours and wouldn’t have received a great deal of money, certainly not compared to this tournament.
‘There are also two world titles to be won. Please God he wins on Saturday because he’ll then fight for the IBF title, and, if he wins that, the WBA title in the following fight.
‘Also, if he wins this tournament he can jump up to welterweight and go for that title and fight Ramirez for the WBC title.’
Not that the WBSS is without risk, McGuigan concedes.
‘If you look at the tournament, every fight is tough for everybody and we’ll be tested in every department at every stage.
‘But, without jumping the gun, I’m confident my man will win the entire tournament. If you’ve got a kid that’s world class, you can take calculated risks.
‘While Martin is great at threequarter distance, I think Taylor’s too good for him at close range.
‘In three 12-rounders he looked magnificent, fit as a flea, stronger and more mature. He’s been looking great.’
Northern Ireland’s Ryan Burnett will share top billing with Taylor in a defence of his WBA world super bantamweight crown against the man dubbed The Filipino Flash, veteran former four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire.
The bout also doubles up as a WBSS quarter-final and Burnett, who at 26 is nine years younger than his opponent, said: ‘I am close to everything I ever wanted in life.’