Josh: Demolition job proves I’m up for the big frights
Josh Taylor reckons he already has his rivals running scared after his sensational statement of intent against Warren Joubert.
The Edinburgh ace wowe d a packed Meadowbank and TV viewers at home with his six- round dismantling of the South Af r ican hardman on Friday.
Taylor defended his Commonwealth super-lightweight crown in style despite suffering a brutal first-round cut after a clash of heads.
The unbeaten 26- year- old is already plotting his next move and is gunning for major honours with Brit ish champion Tyrone Nurse and world champ Ricky Burns in his sights.
Taylor is the rising star of the division and insists his domestic r ivals wi l l fear taking him on.
T h e Glasgow C ommon - wea lth Games star – who has won all nine of his bouts – sa i d : “I think I am scaring a few folk but I am not bothered. I w i l l keep going the way I’m going and the big fights and titles will come.
“It w a s a good s t a t eme n t a g a i n s t Joubert. I hadn’t seen much of him so I never really had a gameplan other than to go out and have a look at him and make sure I was boxing how I like to, nice and quick and hitting him with the feints and with the jab and building on it – and that’s what I did.”
Joubert had only lost four of his 35 fights and was Taylor’s toughest test to date. But the Prestonpans puncher beat him with ease.
It was even more impressive given the Scot was struggl ing with a nasty gash above his left eye following a collision in the opening round.
Tay lor showed t r eme n d o u s ring maturity to keep his focus and overcome the South African with rapid- f ire precision punching and a stunning finish.
He said: “It was my first cut as a pro and I overcame that as well. I think it was in the first minute. I saw the blood dripping straight away.
“But I learned a lot about myself between rounds. I was nice and calm and it didn’t faze me. I know when it gets roug h and tough it is not going to faze me.
“I just took my time and started to get my rhythm and to catch h im as he came in. The last shot was a peach.”
Ta y l o r ’ s at tack was devastat ing but his defence was equal ly impressive.
The open wound gave Joubert a target but the Scot was superb at covering up and bobbing and weav ing out of harm’s way.
The champ said: “I always work on my defence in the gym.
“We make sure when I jab I get my hands back catching the shots and rolling the head.
“There are exciting times ahead, definitely. I am impressed with that performance, over the moon.”