Taylor taps in to Rossi traits
Josh Taylor reckons the traits he shares with idol Valentino Rossi will topple Jack Catterall.
The undisputed l ightwelterweight world champion goes in against WBO mandatory challenger Catterall on Top Rank’s Glasgow bill on Saturday.
A knee injury to the Tartan Tornado saw the fight pushed back from its December date.
Taylor will be channelling Italian MotoGP legend Rossi when he bids to retain his WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC belts in his first defence of the full set.
He said: “Rossi was fast and furious but always in control. That 100 per cent sounds like me.
“I’m fast and furious but in control of what
I’m doing and emotions. It might look like I’m ferocious, being nasty and vicious. But I’m very much in control of it.
“The other big similarity between me and Rossi would be the will to do what it takes to get the right result.
“He put in the work and dedicated himself to his sport.
“I’ve been on motorbikes since I was a little boy of about four or five, messing around.
“Motorbikes are my passion and f irst love. I g rew up watching World Superbikes and MotoGP, Rossi was bursting on to the scene.
“I loved his charisma, his character. He’s fan friendly and exciting. He retired last year with not a great bunch of results but he was still in the premium class in the world at 41, 42. That showed the mindset he has got.”
Last May, the 31- year- old became the first British fighter of the four- belt era to be an undisputed world champion.
Only Oleksandr Usyk, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins and Terence Crawford achieved the feat before him. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has since joined them.
Taylor added: “It will mean the world to me to prolong my time with all these belts. I don’t want to get beaten. I have a fear of losing, I’m a born winner.
“Everything I do is geared towards winning. I’m here to win every time I step in the ring.
“Jack is a very good opponent, he does things well and is well rounded. I rate him highly.
“But I’m here to be on top for as long as I can in the sport.”