Bish bash Josh faces huge test
IN THE career of any boxer with world title aspirations there is that first acid test. Tonight Josh Taylor faces his against Mexican warrior Miguel Vazquez.
With respect to Ohara Davies last time out, that was a domestic dispute, but this is a different level against a former world champion who has never been stopped, and who has touched down just once against Breidis Prescott in a fight he won.
An unbeaten Prescott had knocked out Amir Khan in 140 seconds months earlier.
Vazquez made six successful defences of the IBF super lightweight title before dropping a split decision against Mickey Bey three years ago. Before that he had lost only three times.
In six fights since the Bey defeat Vazquez (below) has lost only once and I thought he did enough to get the decision against Argenis Mendez.
So this is a huge test for Taylor (above, punching Alfonso Olvera in January), and one he needs. He is ready to step up. He needs an opponent that makes him nervous.
Taylor has trained for 14 weeks for this fight. It will tell us where he stands in the superlightweight scene.
All four world titles are up for grabs. Terence Crawford has moved up. The vacant IBF title was won last week by Sergey Lipinets. I would take Taylor to punch holes in Lipinets. That would be an easier fight than Vazquez.
I’m on the cusp of letting him go for a big world title fight but he has to win in Edinburgh tonight. That will determine how quickly and aggressively we move him into title contention.
Taylor is already top-10 with Ring Magazine and the sanctioning bodies. He is being talked about in America, where he has fought three times, including Las Vegas and New York.
He has that innate boxing talent that comes around only now and again. His punch placement is fabulous, he has an incredible engine, moves seamlessly from southpaw to orthodox.
And above all, he is a winner, he has that burning desire.
It’s a great show at the Royal Highland Centre – 10 bouts, four title fights, with Martin Bakoli, Chantelle Cameron and Jason Easton all going for gold, plus the pro debut of Lee McGregor.
We are expecting to nudge two million viewers on Channel Five, which makes the case for boxing on terrestrial TV and tells you we are doing something right.