Taylor’s rival insists there is no bad blood

Josh Taylor believes Ohara Davies will soon show “his true colours” after the Londoner somewhat surprised an open press conference in Glasgow with his reticence.

After clashing on social media for months, the duo are set to meet at the Braehead Arena on July 8 for Taylor’s Commonwealth super-lightweight title.

The show has been named ‘Bad Blood’ but when the unbeaten pair took their places in a Glasgow hotel, with members of the public allowed in, Davies remained calm in the face of some provocation.

The Scot unleashed a volley of verbal abuse towards the WBC silver title-holder at one point, and one of the kinder comments made during exchanges was that Davies was “too thick to outbox me” before he tried to remove the man from Hackney’s sunglasses when they posed for photographs.

Davies, however, said: “I have said a lot of things about him on social media, but I know he is not a bum.

“Even though the show is called ‘Bad Blood’, there is no bad blood on my part. Josh Taylor is a good fighter. I don’t hate him. It is just business.”

Afterwards, Taylor, 26, added: “I thought it was very tame but his true personality and antics will come out.

“I tried to prise it out of him but he has obviously been told to keep it respectful and quiet but we will see his true colours.

“He wasn’t too confident in himself when we came face to face. Come boxing night he will be confident, but I thought I was one up there.

“It is nothing personal with me. I am just looking forward to getting into this fight and showing that I am better than him in every department.”

Taylor, unbeaten with nine wins and eight knockouts, is excited about the prospect of victory over Davies, 25, taking him another rung up the ladder.

However, he is taking nothing for granted against a boxer who boasts 15 wins, including 12 inside the distance.

“If I can beat this guy and beat him in style it elevates me on to a bigger platform and takes my career to the next level,” he said.