The Scotsman

Taylor aims to become two-weight world champion as he eyes Crawford showdown

- By ED ELLIOT

History-maker Josh Taylor is determined to bolster his boxing legacy by becoming a twoweight world champion and believes he has the skills to take down Terence Crawford.

Super-lightweigh­t Taylor became the first British fighter to be crowned undisputed champion in the four-belt era after twice flooring Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas last month.

Having mastered his current division, the 30-year-old is eyeing a step up to welterweig­ht and a potential showdown with WBO champion Crawford.

The Scot feels his remarkable achievemen­ts are only just receiving the recognitio­n they deserve and - without being in a hurry to return to the ring - he is far from finished and eager to keep breaking boundaries and confoundin­g his critics.

"I'd like to become a twoweight world champion. I would love to move up to welterweig­ht and challenge for a world title up there and really be touted as one of the greatest fighters to ever do it from these shores," he said.

"I think I can win that fight with Terence Crawford as well. But I'm not really in a rush. The ball's in my court now and I will fight when I'm ready to fight.

"I believe in my own ability. I have been doubted my whole career. It's always, 'he's a good fighter but...', there is always a 'but' at the end of it.

"Give me my props, I'm undisputed world champion, what do you mean 'but'? I've beaten everyone on the way up, I've beaten the best on the way up as well. I am getting the recognitio­n now and rightly so. I have been kind of under the radar for most of my career, letting the results do the talking and now the results are shouting out what I've achieved. It's about time."

Taylor joined Oleksandr Usyk, Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Crawford in securing a clean sweep of four belts, after only his 18th profession­al fight.

While his next engagement is likely to be against a mandatory challenger, the southpaw believes he possesses sufficient punching power to move up a category and feels a bout with fellow unbeaten fighter Crawford - with whom he shares a promotiona­l company - would be straightfo­rward to arrange.

His preference would be for the contest to be staged in the surrounds of Edinburgh Castle but, given family and friends were unable to travel to Vegas for the Ramirez clash due to restrictio­ns, would also welcome another trip across the Atlantic. "It's an easy fight to happen because he's under Top Rank, I'm under Top Rank, so it's all in-house," Taylor said.

"The only discussion would be where it is, that's the only obstacle we have: is it in Scotland or is it in America?

"Personally I would love it in America again but if it comes to Scotland, even better. I would love to re-do what I just did but properly, with the fans and with my family and friends there to celebrate and enjoy it.

"But the castle is an iconic venue. You've seen it all lit up at night when the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is on during the festival and coming out of the esplanade - that's a oncein-a-lifetime event."

 ??  ?? 0 Josh Taylor, the undisputed super lightweigh­t world champion, with his fiancee Danielle Murphy at the new Sports Direct flagship store on London’s Oxford Street
0 Josh Taylor, the undisputed super lightweigh­t world champion, with his fiancee Danielle Murphy at the new Sports Direct flagship store on London’s Oxford Street

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