TAYLOR IN A TEAR UP

Scot sobs after epic ‘tribute’ win over Prograis

JOSH TAYLOR fought back the tears as he revealed how he survived the last two rounds of a thrilling battle with Regis Prograis to become the best lightwelterweight on the planet.

Taylor edged the first 10 rounds against the brilliant American, but the bout was in the balance to the very end as a huge swelling to his right eye meant he could not see shots coming.

The Scot told how he was determined to pay a fitting tribute at the O2 to his girlfriend Danielle’s late dad.

James Murphy died in September and Taylor said: “I’ve not been able to grieve properly, so it’s been hard. I’ve not been able to be there for my girlfriend, for her family, as much as I’d have liked.

“But I used it as motivation. Especially in those last two rounds when I couldn’t see anything coming, it was pure determination and heart.

“I was saying, ‘Come on do this, do this for James’ or Jimmy as I called him. There was no way I was getting beat.”

Taylor (jubilant, below), who shed tears in the dressing room with Danielle after one of the fights of the year, is now arguably Britain’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

A brilliant display in just his 16th professional bout earned him the points decision, with two judges going for him 117112 and 115-113 and the other scoring it 114-114.

The unbeaten southpaw added the

WBA title to his IBF belt, and was also crowned World Boxing Super Series winner and given the gold Muhammad Ali trophy (above).

It will be an ornament for his new house. “We’ve not got a bed or anything yet so these belts, the trophy, they’re our first bits of furniture,” he said.

“We’ll be sitting in the living room with a couple of deck chairs and the Ali trophy to look at.”

But while they will be soon shopping for sofas, beds and dining room tables, Taylor will also be in the market for a couple more lightwelterweight belts.

American WBO and WBC champion Jose Ramirez was quick to call him out and Taylor said: “He can get it.

“I’ll take a travelling army to America for Ramirez or bring him back here to Edinburgh Castle.”