The Scotsman

Taylor-made for a glorious career

● Mcguigan tips Edinburgh fighter to win world crown after latest victory

-

“Josh is one of the best fighters in the world, not just in the super lightweigh­t division but any division,” Mcguigan said.

“The super lightweigh­t division is red hot at the moment but he’s the hottest thing in it. We’re now very close to something really exciting. He’s very special. I am accused of being biased but I said at the very beginning how much talent this kid has. They all said he couldn’t punch as an amateur – well how silly do those people look now?

“We’ll see how [Amir] Imam and [Jose Carlos] Ramirez get on in two weeks in New York and I think we’d like to see Josh fight the winner in a worldtitle eliminator back here in Glasgow in June. He’s fast, controlled, intelligen­t – he really is one of the most exciting talents in world boxing.”

Mcguigan, pictured right, continued: “And he’s only getting better. He’s filling out a lot more and improving all the time under Shane. I genuinely believe he will win the world super lightweigh­t title and then move up to welterweig­ht. But it’s just about taking one fight at a time.

“He’s wanting to fight Mikey Garcia but he is probably the most dangerous boxer in the world at the moment. But that’s what Josh is like. He will match himself against anyone and he would genuinely like that fight.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Jason Easton suffered the first defeat of his profession­al career as he was stopped late in the 11th round by Englishman Glenn Foot.

However, there was greater concern over the IBO Interconti­nental and Celtic super lightweigh­t champion’s health after ringside paramedics rushed to assist Easton, who lay stricken on the canvas. After receiving some oxygen, the 26-year-old was able to return to his feet but was inconsolab­le as he left the arena. Easton spent Saturday night in hospital under observatio­n but was released yesterday. Easton was never in the contest and looked a fraction 2 Josh Taylor catches Winston Campos with a punishing right-hand before celebratin­g his successful defence of the WBC Silver super lightweigh­t title. of the boxer who had reeled off 11 straight wins. Foot’s celebratio­ns were scaled down given the way the contest ended but he is the new Commonweal­th champion.

Easton said afterwards: “I’m doing fine. I had a CT scan and everything came back okay. I’m devastated how the fight went. I was nowhere near my best but I will bounce back.”

There was a third straight win by knockout for the capital’s Lee Mcgregor, while Charlie Flynn’s Celtic Lightweigh­t duel with Ryan Collins was declared a technical draw after a clash of heads in the third round. Marc Kerr defeated Iain Trotter to become the new Scottish middleweig­ht champion.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom