Josh Taylor – three of his best fights
After spending his entire career fighting at super lightweight, former undisputed world champion, Josh Taylor, steps up to the welterweight division on Saturday night.
After a wildly successful career, 34-year-old Taylor could have easily walked away from the sport financially secure and content with his achievements but has instead decided to climb the mountain again and will make his 147lb debut against the underrated but extremely dangerous Ekow Essuman. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook
Taylor’s charge to the undisputed title was one of the most impressive of modern times. In an era where fighters are guided and manoeuvred towards the top, the Scotsman attacked his professional career from the start.
After collecting his first title in just his seventh fight, Taylor pushed on relentlessly. His success earned him a place in the World Boxing Super Series and he successfully ran the gauntlet, emerging from a single elimination tournament of the eight of the world’s best 140lb fighters as the unified IBF and WBA world champion.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed his charge but he was soon back in the ring and became just the sixth male fighter in history to hold all four title belts by beating WBC and WBO champion, Jose Carlos Ramirez in Las Vegas.
Since then, things have got harder for Taylor. He got involved in a heated rivalry with Jack Catterall, winning a controversial spilt decision and then losing a unanimous one. In between those two fights he produced an uncharacteristically tame performance and lost to former lightweight king, Teofimo Lopez.
Taylor is hoping that a move up the weight scale will provide him with a new lease of life but the experienced, relentless Essuman will provide him with a genuine test of both his talent and determination this weekend.
Let’s look back at three of Taylor’s most memorable nights.
JULY 2017 – OHARA DAVIES
Taylor has scored some outstanding wins over world class, well known names but his early career win over the controversial Ohara Davies was his first real taste of a true big fight atmosphere.
Davies was an awkward, heavy handed unbeaten fighter with the ability cause trouble in an empty room and he and Taylor traded insults throughout a hostile build up.
Taylor is a fiery character and it would have been very easy for him to get carried away and allow his heart to overrule his head.
Instead, Taylor passed his biggest test to date with flying colours. Amid a tumultuous atmosphere, he was aggressive but calculating and imposed himself early. He dropped Davies in the third round and although the Londoner got up and tried to get a foothold in the fight, Taylor raised the tempo and forced a seventh round stoppage.
OCTOBER 2019 – REGIS PROGRAIS
Taylor had eliminated unbeaten American, Ryan Martin, and the world class Ivan Baranchyk to reach the final of the outstanding World Boxing Super Series but the slick, high quality Louisianan, Regis Prograis, stood between him and the prestigious Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Taylor and Prograis produced one of the best fights of 2019. The all-southpaw contest had the changes in momentum and plot twists required of a great fight as both men enjoyed periods of success and also had to show heart, courage and fitness.
The fight seemed to be in the balance at the halfway point but Taylor – his right eye badly swollen – began to get a grip on matters only for Prograis to rally in the championship rounds.
Taylor was handed a tight majority decision and added Prograis’ WBA belt to his own IBF title.
MAY 2021 – JOSE CARLOS RAMIREZ
Whilst Taylor walked through the fire to win the World Boxing Super Series, Ramirez stayed on the outside. Already the WBC champion, he beat Maurice Hooker to add the WBO belt to his collection and set the table for a four belt, undisputed title with Taylor.
Under COVID-19 restrictions, Taylor travelled to Las Vegas and fought the tough Californian in front of a small crowd but the unusual surroundings didn’t affect him in the slightest.
Taylor was excellent and although the vast majority of rounds were hard fought and close, Taylor always seemed to have the edge and he scored knockdowns in the sixth and seventh rounds to give himself a slight cushion.
After twelve quality rounds, Taylor was handed a unanimous decision, becoming the first and only British fighter to hold all four major world titles.
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