BLOCKBUSTER AT HAMPDEN WOULD BE EPIC FOR JOSH

JOSH TAYLOR says he’d love to have a go at packing out Hampden for a blockbuster world-title fight. But the reigning WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightwelterweight champion warned that he might struggle to flog a frightening 75,000 tickets for even the biggest box office clash. Taylor, who became the first British fighter to unify any weight division in the four-belt era with his victory over Jose ramirez in Las Vegas, was pleased to hear SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell suggesting that the Tartan Tornado take a super-fight to the national stadium. ‘I’d love to fight there as well, although that might just be a little bit too big,’ said the 30-year-old. ‘I know I pull in a good crowd but could I sell 75,000 tickets? I don’t know. ‘That would be some feat, an achievement in itself. It’s probably asking too much — but never say never. ‘It would be really cool to fight there, though. Mike Tyson only drew 20,000 so there you go, but it could happen. ‘I’d certainly like to hope so because, if that was announced, it would be amazing. Why not? I have some great support.’

The lifelong Hibs fan joked about his ability to do better than his team did in last weekend’s Scottish Cup final, laughing as he said: ‘yeah, they Hibsed it, didn’t they? ‘But it is what it is: you win some, you lose some. Unless you’re Josh Taylor, when you win them all!’ As tempted as he is by the lure of Hampden, the Pride of Prestonpans remains desperate to have another big fight within easier reach of his hometown supporters. ‘I think I’ve got to take care of a mandatory defence next but obviously it’s not written in stone,’ he said, adding: ‘We’ll wait and see what happens. ‘I’d love to have a fight here at Easter road or Edinburgh Castle, in my home city. I haven’t fought at home since Miguel Vazquez and that was at Ingliston in 2017 so it was a long time ago. ‘I’d like to do that so the kids can come and watch — or for those who afford to go through to Glasgow and spend a lot of money on hotels, trains and buses or whatever. When they get through there they’ve got to spend a lot of money before they even buy themselves a pint. I’d like to repay my home friends and family.’