Josh Taylor: A name to remember

Boxingnews24.com

By Dan Fitz-Simons

Josh Taylor (“The Tartan Tornado”), from Edinburg, Scotland, is rated # 9 in the super lightweight division by Boxrec. The 27- year old 5’10” southpaw has a record of 12 wins and no losses, with 11 of those wins by knockout, a 92% KO rate.

Taylor holds WBA, IBF, and Commonwealth titles. In addition, he expanded his recognition by fighting outside his native U.K. in El Paso, Las Vegas, and Brooklyn, N.Y. He trains under Shane McGuigan and spars with top British fighters like Carl Frampton and George Groves.

McGuigan compares Josh to the great Scottish lightweight, Ken Buchanan. He believes Josh is championship material; it’s just a matter of time. A valid statement, since Taylor may eventually face opponents like Adrian Broner, Terry Flannigan, Victor Postol, or Mickey Garcia.

Taylor has fought some legitimate opponents like Ohara Davies and Miguel Vazquez, who held the IBF lightweight title for 4 years. Team Taylor believes a contest for the British title is a step backward and prefers a match against Anthony Yigit of Sweden for the European (EBU) belt.

Taylor’s 6-day training regimen includes sparing, sprints, and weight lifting, with a “clean” (low carb) meal on his day off. There’s no ring rust or stamina issue with Taylor, who comes to fight in tip-top condition. He has also stayed busy with 4 fights in 2017, and another in 2018.

Taylor can box and bang, which makes him a dangerous opponent. His most lethal punch is the right hook, which he throws in an aggressive, forward moving style. He likes to mix it up on the inside, nailing his opponent with vicious hooks to the body, either in a corner or on the ropes.

Josh has KO’d all but one of his opponents, wearing them down with body shots, and setting them up for a classic overhand left. His defense is also highly effective. He puts on the ear muffs, and then suddenly jumps on a surprised opponent with a flurry of counter-punches.

Taylor won his first 2018 bout this March against Winston Campos by a 3rd round TKO. However, he has yet to be tested against an A-level contender. Two more wins should prepare him to face a top ten opponent in 2019. By then, fight fans will be more familiar with the name Josh Taylor.