WBC Silver Super lightweight champion Josh Taylor admits he is desperate to bring big-time boxing back to Scotland.
The 27-year-old from Prestonpans is due to take on the experienced Ukranian fighter Viktor Postol at Glasgow’s Hydro Arena next Saturday in a WBC world title eliminator fight. The bout with Postol is shaping up to be Taylor’s toughest test of his professional career to date and a win is likely to be a pivotal moment for the former Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Taylor has been tipped by many to become Scotland next boxing world champion, following in the footsteps of his compatriots Ricky Burns and Scott Harrison. Taylor is desperate to dispose of Postol next weekend and bring another world title fight to these shores and he is optimistic that by helping to raise the profile of his sport, he can inspire more kids in this country to try their hand at boxing.
“It would be brilliant - it would bring the big nights back to Scotland again, obviously they’ve kind of dwindled away since Ricky lost his titles,” said the Edinburgh fighter, who has won all twelve of his pro fights to date.
“If I was to win this fight it would bring big time boxing back to Scotland; back to Edinburgh; back to Glasgow.
“I’m fully confident I’m going to win the fight, in fact I am going to win the fight and once I get past this hurdle it can mean great things for young kids in Edinburgh and Scotland looking for inspiration.
“It can give them drive, so I think it’ll be great.”
Taylor is under no illusions as to how tough a task defeating Postol will be, with the Ukranian’s only loss from his 30-bouts coming against the celebrated American Terence Crawford two years ago.
But Taylor, who is going from strength to strength under the watchful eye of trainer Shane McGuigan and manager Barry McGuigan in his training base in London is adamant that he will have enough in his locker to stop the 34-year-old.
Speaking to fighttalk.net, he added: “I’ve got the youth, the speed, the timing, the power, the ability, the desire - I have everything to beat him. But it is the hardest fight in my career and it’s a massive step up for me.
“The guy’s fought at the top level for a number of years now and I’ve got nothing but respect for him. At the same time - I’m going in there to prove a point.”
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