Taylor’s business with Crawford put on back burner
Josh Taylor admits he already has his sights set on Terence Crawford – even though he has unfinished business at 140lb.
The WBA and IBF super-lightweight champion plans to get past a mandatory defence against Apinun Khongsong in Glasgow on May 2 before unifying the division in a bout with WBC and WBO belt holder Jose Ramirez.
Boxing superstar Crawford got his hands on all four belts before moving up to welterweight, where he is now WBO champion.
And Edinburgh’s Taylor would love to set up a mouth-watering battle against the unbeaten American.
He said: “That is a goal of mine but I can’t take my eye off the ball.
“I need to take care of this mandatory first and I’ve got to be focused on that. But you do look down the line at what potentially could happen for me.
“In an ideal world I beat my mandatory, beat Ramirez – I think i can knock him out as well – maybe make a couple of voluntary defences and then move up and chase a second world title at another weight.”
Taylor, who took Regis Prograis’ WBA belt off him in a stunning points win in London last October, added: “I’m looking forward to getting stuck into my mandatory fight then chase that Ramirez fight.
“That could possibly be in America, or here, you never know.
“It would be amazing if you could get it here at Edinburgh Castle or one of the football stadiums, that would be class.”
Deontay Wilder has repeated his desire to reclaim the world heavyweight title from Tyson Fury.
Wilder was stopped in the seventh round by Fury last weekend and blamed the weight of his ring-walk costume for his defeat.
And the American wasted little time in invoking a rematch clause which makes it likely he and Fury will soon face off for a third time.
In a video message posted on his Twitter account, Wilder said: “I want to let you know that your king is here and we ain’t going nowhere.
“I will rise again. I am strong, I am king. You can’t take my pride. I am a warrior. I am a king that will never give up.”