CAPITAL PAIN!
Fed-up Taylor slams Edinburgh Castle over fight snub
TO PARAPHRASE the Prestonpans pugilist himself, it’s completely gaga for the custodians of Edinburgh Castle to keep giving Josh Taylor the cold shoulder.
Taylor heads to Vegas with high hopes of becoming undisputed champion of the world on May 22. But he admits he is close to giving up on his ambition to stage a fight at the famous capital tourist attraction.
Speaking just 24 hours after his unification bout with Jose Ramirez was confirmed, giving the IBF and WBA champ a chance to add the Californian’s WBC and WBO belts to his collection, the 30-year-old was in high spirits.
Hopeful that a relaxation of travel restrictions will allow him to take a Tartan Army battalion to Nevada for the bout, he has even promised to stick his card behind the bar for a post-fight session with the thirsty footsoldiers.
But the former Commonwealth Games gold medallist still finds it baffling that his appeals for dialogue with Historic Environment Scotland continue to fall on deaf ears.
‘It’s been stone cold from Edinburgh Castle — and it’s a growing frustration for me,’ confessed Taylor.
‘I’m beginning to get to the point of telling them where to go.
‘It’s beyond me why the people at Edinburgh Castle don’t want to have one of their natives involved in a massive historical event at the castle.
‘Yet they’ll let Lady Gaga or someone go up there and have a bloody concert. It’s beyond me, the logic.
‘I just know a fight of that magnitude, a fight with the castle in the background, is great for Scotland, great for Edinburgh Castle. It’ll bring tourists and revenue in.
‘I almost feel like sticking the middle finger up and taking it elsewhere. I’d really love to fight there but, if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. It’s their loss, in my opinion. It would be a real shame and a missed opportunity but we’ll just go to Easter Road!’
The lifelong Hibs fan, asked if he thought those responsible for castle events might change their minds if he returns from the States with four world title belts in his luggage, said: ‘You never know. I’d like to think I’d get some sort of reaction or correspondence from them to at least have a conversation about it.
‘It would be good to get in touch with them after I do this and have a discussion about it.’
First, of course, Taylor has to take care of an opponent who, like the Scot, has never lost a pro fight.
Planning to head out to Vegas four weeks early in order to acclimatise and adjust to the time difference, Taylor has experience of fighting in ‘Sin City’.
And he’s going to follow one example set by headliner Carl Frampton on that occasion four years ago.
The Scot, who defeated Alfonso Olvera before watching Frampton beat Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Grand, recalled: ‘The day after the fight, we went across to the Nine Fine Irishmen Pub across the road. All the fans were in there. It was just a brilliant day.
‘That’s why I’d love it if the restrictions were lifted and we could have fans over there. I could take them for a drink and thank them for their support. Carl stuck his card behind the bar that day — and, of course, I’d do the same. Especially so in the current circumstances when people have been off work and not making much money.
‘If they are willing to spend money on coming over then I’d want to treat them to a few drinks after I won the belts.
‘There is talk of the travel restrictions getting lifted just a little bit before May.
‘I’m not going to hold my breath because you just never know what’s going to happen.
‘But it would be amazing for all the travel restrictions to be lifted so people can go, letting me have a travelling support from the UK.
‘I want to take the Tartan Army over to Vegas and have a big shindig after the fight. That would be amazing.’
Taylor was fast-tracked through the ranks after turning pro at the relatively late age of 27.
He’s won the World Boxing Super Series trophy, picking up those two world titles along the way, and is the holder of the prestigious Ring Magazine belt while racking up a record of 17-0-0, with 13 knock-outs.
Looking ahead to the big night against Ramirez, he admitted: ‘I feel really lucky to be in this position but I’ve worked hard to get here.
‘I’ve dedicated my whole adult life to my sport and to my craft. For this fight to come off, something every fighter dreams about, headlining in Vegas, I know I’m one of the fortunate few getting to do that.
‘So I feel satisfaction that all my hard work and dedication over the years is paying off.
‘But I’m not finished yet. I’ve still got a job to do. Win this fight and that’s something else ticked off the bucket list of things I want to achieve.
‘I’ve been in camp for about five or six weeks now, so I’m pretty fit already, ahead of schedule.
‘I started sparring again last week. We’re flying with the work we’re doing, so there is no rush. By the time the fight comes, I’ll be raring to go.’