The unbeaten Scotsman, who is looking to unify the 140lb division early next year, opens up about what got him into boxing
Unbeaten Scotsman Josh Taylor defends his WBA and IBF light welterweight titles against Thai knockout artist Apinun Khongsong next Saturday in London behind closed doors, aiming to unify the 140lb division by early next year. Growing up in Prestonpans, on the coast near Edinburgh, he was a late developer, and was often picked on.
“As a younger boy growing up I’ve always found myself in fights. But I never started them. I was smaller than everyone else. People would try and pick on me. I’m very laid back, but if someone is on me my temper goes. The fight comes out, the nastiness, the spitefulness. That’s always been there.”
He has always been ultra-competitive. It led him into the fight game. He will battle until he cannot stand.
“If I’m getting hurt, there’s no way in hell I’m waving the white flag. You’re either beating me or the corner or the ref stops the fight. I’m not going to quit.”
The goal for the 29-year-old former Glasgow Commonwealth Games champion is a blockbuster unification fight with American Jose Ramirez, who is unbeaten in a 26-fight resume, and who holds the WBO and WBC 140lb belts.
Taylor told the Sunday Telegraph “To want to be in this game and want to get punched in the face you’ve got to be a little mad. I’m a very nice person but I have got this horrible wicked side to me that comes out when I need it.”
“Controlled aggression is what makes boxing beautiful. It’s great for mental health, for confidence, for respect, for discipline. Boxing is the best place for that.”
Taylor’s Thai opponent comes to the UK in these strange times, with no crowd in the arena, knowing that victory over the Scotsman will propel him to riches in the division.
Taylor said: “He’ll be bringing his best game. It’s his big chance to get two belts. He can be world champion. He’ll be right up for it and that gives me that fear factor and you need that on fight night. The atmosphere will make it feel like a sparring session. But my belts and record are on the line.”
His Taylor’s mind is set on the undisputed title with Ramirez. “When I sit and think about where I am and what I’ve achieved in a relatively short time, being on the brink of being undisputed world champion, being from Prestonpans… little Josh Taylor from Prestonpans is unified world champion and is on the cusp of becoming undisputed world champion, never for a minute did I think it would come true to this extent and so quickly. But I don’t want to stop here.”
I want to keep going. I feel I’ve still got loads left to prove and do. I want to win this fight, get this fight with Ramirez and win that. I want to move on again. Once I’m undisputed world champion, that’s everything taken care of at 140lbs.”