Undisputed lightweight champion Josh Taylor is putting it all on the line in attempt to join the greats
Josh Taylor puts all the lightweight world title belts up for grabs
against World Boxing Organisation mandatory challenger Jack Catterall
at his “home venue” at the OVO arena in Glasgow on Saturday and admits
that “everything’s on the line”. The 31-year-old has set his long-term
sights on becoming the only two-weight undisputed champion in modern
history.
The Scot, ranked No5 pound for pound in the world by The Ring
magazine, known as “the bible of boxing”, held two of the world titles
at 140lb in his last contest when he met Jose Ramirez, who held two
title belts himself, in Las Vegas last May. Taylor won a clear
decision, coming back to the fanfare of bagpipes from his many fans
yet disgruntled that a major UK broadcaster had not shown his moment
of glory.
Taylor, undefeated in 18 contests – 13 by knockout – now faces
Lancastrian Catterall at the venue where he claimed Commonwealth gold
in 2014. “Everything’s on the line. If I lose, I lose what I’ve worked
so hard to get,” Taylor says. “The mentality is a little different in
terms of confidence and self-belief. My confidence is at its peak. I
feel like King Kong on top of the mountain at the minute. I feel calm
and relaxed as well. I’m in a real good mental and physical place.”
But there was disappointment when he arrived home to his native
Prestonpans last May, having won behind closed doors in Las Vegas, in
the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. It seemed underwhelming to him,
and his belts had also been lost in transit back from the United
States, just as he was being compared to fellow Scot the great
lightweight Ken Buchanan, a star in the Seventies.
“I noticed the difference once I got home. For a couple of weeks there
was lots of media and stuff, mostly telephone interviews because I
couldn’t do it in person because of the social distancing and all that
carry-on. I got a couple of Scottish TV gigs and then it kind of
loosened up a little bit,” Taylor says. “Then I started getting more
recognition and more stuff. But it was very frustrating.
“The fight with Ramirez should have been on one of the big platforms.
It was very frustrating given the achievement: the first person from
the UK to do it. It went under the radar. But it is what it is. I
don’t live for all the pats on the back and the adulation. I let my
boxing do the talking.”
A big favourite against 28-year-old Catterall on Saturday, with the
challenger undefeated in 26 fights, Taylor refuses to make the mistake
of underestimating his foe: “He’s a great fighter. He’s beaten
everyone who has been put in front of him with no problems really.
Obviously I’ve seen holes in his performances and massive mistakes he
makes. But having said that he’s come through every challenge and has
done what’s asked of him and has been waiting patiently for a couple
of years for that WBO shot.”
Taylor adds: “Obviously he could’ve stepped in and beaten me to the
challenge against Ramirez, but we’ve both got the same management
company and we came to an agreement that I would do it first and then
off the back of it I’ll give Jack a shot. He’s been starved of the
opportunity for a couple of years and this is his opportunity to pick
up not only the WBO but all the belts. He has got the bit between his
teeth and will bring his ‘A’ game.”
Taylor, who has never struggled in the greatest of challenges against
the likes of the formidable Regis Prograis, is intent, nonetheless, on
stamping his authority on the fight. “I believe I’m going to beat him
up in every department and give him a good hiding. I know Jack is a
good fighter and poses a threat, and I know my titles are on the line.
I know the mistakes that other guys have made and I’m not doing it.
I’m not that kind of character.
“I do believe that I can really break him down and get him out of
there. I do believe I can really win the fight in every department. I
do believe I can get a knockout, but I won’t be looking for it. If it
comes, it comes.”
The great buzz for Taylor is to fight at the Glasgow arena where he
has enjoyed rich success. “The Hydro is my home arena. Although I’m
from a couple of miles along the road in East Lothian, Glasgow and the
Hydro is my home. That’s where I’ve had all my biggest successes,
starting with the Commonwealth Games and winning my gold medal there,
then going on and having most of my big pro fights at the Hydro. I won
my world title there, beat Ryan Martin there, boxed Viktor Postol
there. It’s like a cauldron. It’s a great little arena for the
atmosphere. It’s going to be good. It’s a celebration that should have
happened last year when I came home with the belts.”
The biggest target for Taylor is to become a two-weight undisputed
world champion. “I’ve made it publicly known that that’s one of my
longerterm goals. I’m of the mindset that you should always set new
goals and targets so you’re never standing still or getting stale. The
longer-term goal is to become a two-time undisputed champion at two
weights. But the short-term goal is to beat Jack. Then we’ll see what
comes. Hopefully I’ll move up in weight, win a fight there, challenge
for a world title, become a champion. You have to take the baby steps
before the massive steps. “