Taylor just thrilled to prove he is a cut above
JOSH TAYLOR, whose burgeoning talents have drawn comparisons with lightweight legend Ken Buchanan, learned a great deal about himself in his defeat of Warren Joubert.
The 26-year-old Commonwealth super lightweight champion from Prestonpans ruthlessly swept aside the South African’s challenge to his crown at Meadowbank on Friday evening.
But it was not so much the hugely impressive manner of his sixth-round stoppage that pleased the undefeated fighter in his ninth professional bout as the way he coped with the psychology of having to box with a nasty injury.
Taylor sustained a deep gash above his left eye in the opening round following a clash of heads.
He reflected: ‘Although that’s the first time I’ve had a cut as a pro, I overcame it well.
‘I think it happened in the first minute. He came in and I ducked and I saw blood dripping straight away.
‘But it didn’t concern me and I didn’t even ask how it was in the corner, I just left it. It was quite a bad one, but that’s just the game we are in.
‘You can’t go into the water without getting wet, so that is the risk you take.
‘It can happen and it has, but it doesn’t bother me. It is just part of the game.
‘I felt I learned a lot about myself. Between rounds, I was nice and calm and it didn’t faze me one bit.
‘So now I know that when it gets rough and tough it is not going to faze me. I can keep my cool.’
Taylor was also pleased with his display at Meadowbank.
He added: ‘I was impressed with that performance. I took my time in the first couple of rounds as I didn’t know much about him.
‘I never really had a game plan, other than to go out and have a look at him and make sure I was boxing how I like to — nice and quick.
‘Eventually, I established my rhythm and started to catch him. I was hitting him with the feints and with the jab and then building on it and, as he came in, the last shot was a peach.
‘He is durable, so it’s a good statement. I think I am scaring a few folk but I’m not bothered. I will just keep going the way I am and the big fights and the titles will come.
‘There are exciting times ahead, definitely.’