TAYLOR IS ON RIGHT TRACK, CLAIMS BARRY

BARRY McGUIGAN’S decision to aim Josh Taylor at the World Boxing Super Series appears to have put the prospect of the Edinburgh super-lightweight challenging WBC champion Jose Ramirez on hold in the meantime.

Taylor’s manager believes that the WBSS offers his boxer a more realistic route to a world title on the grounds that he would almost certainly be forced to face the Californian in his own backyard.

McGuigan explained that after careful consideration, he had reached the conclusion that, if Taylor went straight for the WBC title, the likelihood is he would have to travel to the west coast to fight Ramirez.

‘That being the case, this is a better opportunity for Josh, and commercially it’s very good as well because the people behind the Super Series know how popular he is, both in Edinburgh and Glasgow,’ he said.

But Ramirez appears keen not to slam the door shut on the idea of a fight with the mandatory challenger to his crown.

Taylor, 27, earned that status by defeating Ukrainian Viktor Postol on points in a final eliminator at the SSE Hydro 15 days ago. And Ramirez has expressed the belief that a fight between the rivals would be good for the sport.

He says: ‘A fight between me and him down the line is exactly what boxing needs. I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen of Taylor.

‘He’s certainly one of several talents in what has become a very competitive division.

‘But I want to fight the best and find out how good I can be.’