Taylor wants to get boxing fans on their feet
Unified super lightweight world champion Josh Taylor wants to kick-start Scotland's summer of sport with a song that will have everyone up on their feet.
Unified super lightweight world champion Josh Taylor wants to kick-start Scotland's summer of sport with a song that will have everyone up on their feet.
The 30-year-old Prestonpans puncher is set to jet out to America on Friday ahead of his undisputed showdown against Mexican-american, Jose Ramirez, in Las Vegas, next month.
Undefeated Taylor stands on the brink of being the first fighter in British boxing history to become undisputed world champion in the fourbelt era should he triumph in Nevada on May 22.
It is a match-up that has caught the imagination of the boxing fraternity, although the venue in the entertainment capital of the world is still to be confirmed.
But Taylor aims to get the whole county behind him and last week ran a poll asking if he should enter the ring to the sound of the 1977-hit, Yes Sir I Can Boogie, the now unofficial anthem adopted by the Scottish football team in wake of their Euro 2020 qualification.
Asked if he would, Taylor said: “I don’t know yet, I was just putting the feelers out – but it would be good.
“If I win the fight, I would definitely play that as part of the victory celebrations. That would be brilliant.
“And I would love nothing more than to come out at Hampden for one of the games in the Euros. To stand in the middle of the pitch with all four belts, it would be amazing.
“I’d then sing Yes Sir I Can Boogie on the pitch at the national stadium – and I’m sure everyone would join in!
“I’m flying at the moment – I’m way ahead of schedule. My weight is bang on target and I’m hitting PBS in the gym. I’m absolutely smashing the numbers and I just can’t wait to get over there now.
“It’s been a long 12-week camp and I just want to get over to the sunshine and get down to work.
“I’ve done all my homework on Rameriz. He doesn’t really do anything in his fights but I’ll tell you after the fight on May 22 if there’s anything that surprises me."
Although Taylor is about to hit the headlines in Vegas, some of Youtube's biggest stars have stolen the sport's limelight recently.
“I’ve got mixed feelings about it all," Taylor explained.
“The guys are bringing in lots of new eyes to the sport and huge numbers in terms of pay-per-views.
“They are making good money. In terms of boxing, maybe they should have their own shows rather than calling themselves boxers.
“It does make a little bit of a mockery of the sport in some ways. Look, it does add to the show business side of things and it clearly gives people a level of entertainment.
“They have about 22 million subscribers or followers, and that’s the kind of numbers they can bring in. I wouldn’t be complaining if I was making their money – maybe I need to get myself a Youtube channel!
“I don’t concern myself too much, as long as I put on a show against Rameriz.”
Josh Taylor was interviewed as he launched a brand partnership with German Doner Kebab.