Josh Taylor: ‘When Will We See Your Like Again’

Receiving his amateur schooling in the sport under the watchful eye of Terry McCormack at Lochend Boxing Club in Edinburgh, Taylor entered boxing’s pro ranks after medalling for Scotland at the 2010 (silver) and 2014 (gold) Commonwealth Games. He also represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games.

With these high-profile amateur achievements under his belt, there was a high degree of interest in how Taylor would fare as a pro. I think it is fair to say his 10-year campaign exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic Scottish and UK boxing fans.

Starting Off Fast

Debuting in El Paso, Texas, on a Carl Frampton undercard, Taylor didn’t waste any time. Opponent Weah Archiebald was finished off in the second round. Promotional outfit Cyclone, run by Barry McGuigan and his family, must have been pleased with their new fighter.

Indeed, signing on with Cyclone meant that Taylor would be managed by McGuigan while being trained by Shane McGuigan, son of the famous Irish fighter. In a boxing sense, it would be a partnership that brought out the very best in Taylor.

Returning to home shores, Taylor followed up his win on American soil by winning in all four corners of the UK. The man, who now carried the moniker “The Tartan Tornado” to the ring, stopped opponents in Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester, and Cardiff before returning to the USA – again on a Frampton undercard, this time in Brooklyn, New York. Taylor showcased his skills to the NYC crowd that night, forcing opponent Evincii Dixon to retire in the second round. It was a fine way to round off his first year in boxing’s paid ranks.

Continuing To Progress

With Taylor’s apprenticeship over, it was now time to see how far his early promise could take him in the 140-pound division.

A marker was put down in January of 2017 as Taylor defeated experienced Englishman Dave Ryan for the Commonwealth super lightweight title. A regional title won in his seventh bout; Taylor was on a roll.

Another challenge came Taylor’s way in July of 2017. Rising English contender Ohara Davies – at the time 15-0 – was the man standing in Taylor’s way. It was billed as a 50/50 fight, and the Braehead Arena, just outside of Glasgow, was packed for a potential classic. As it turned out, Davies and his army of overconfident fans had underestimated Taylor. In the words of a famous old song, Davies and his supporters were “sent homeward to think again.” Taylor had now established himself as the best 140-pound boxer in the UK.

Being Matched Hard

For his eleventh bout, Taylor was handed an awkward-looking assignment. Experienced Mexican Miguel Vazquez was in the opposite corner. Known as El Titere (The Puppet) due to his unconventional movements in the ring, Vazquez was at this time contesting his 45th bout and had previously lifted a world title. It was a little risky, but with a raucous crowd at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre roaring him on, Taylor became the first man to stop Vazquez, doing so with a quality body shot in the ninth round.

After mastering ‘The Puppet,’ Taylor would face another battle-hardened warrior in June of 2018. Viktor Postol of Ukraine, then 29-1, was Taylor’s foe. The chatter before the bout at The Hydro in Glasgow was that the winner would earn entry into the upcoming World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) super lightweight tournament.

Postol and Taylor put on an outstanding battle. It was a war of attrition, and the first time Taylor was taken to the final bell by an opponent. At the conclusion, Taylor was declared the winner by unanimous decision. It was the first time I thought about how much of himself Taylor left in the ring. It was a hugely impressive victory, but it was gruelling.

Battling To WBSS And World Title Glory

Taylor was now in the upper echelon of global 140-pound fighters – he just needed the opportunity to box for the belts.

Five months on from his win over Postol, Taylor was back at the Hydro as the WBSS tournament kicked off. Slick American Ryan Martin had no answer for the Tartan Tornado’s all-action style as he was vanquished in seven one-sided rounds.

It was at this point that Taylor was truly peaking. A southpaw who would occasionally switch hit, Taylor was truly at his best when moving in behind his aggressive jab and delivering combination punches at close quarters. It made for an exciting style which had been perfected for professional boxing during many hours in the gym under Shane McGuigan’s supervision.

In the WBSS semifinal, Taylor faced undefeated Ivan Baranchyk of Belarus. Baranchyk held the IBF strap, so Taylor finally had his chance of winning a world title. Much like the Postol fight, Taylor went to war with a skilled and game opponent and emerged victorious after twelve brutal rounds. The Scotsman was now a world titlist and advanced to the final of the WBSS.

That contest took place five short months after the Baranchyk bout in October 2019. London’s 02 Arena played host as American Regis Prograis, the WBA title holder, gave Taylor his sternest examination to date. Again, it was a thrilling battle. It was incredible to watch two fighters at the top of their game give absolutely everything. Taylor was declared the winner at the end of twelve pulsating rounds. He won the tournament and was now the unified champion in his weight class. Again, though, one suspected that the attritional nature of the win didn’t do his chances of career longevity any good.

Becoming Undisputed Before Father Time Caught Up

With two belts in hand, Taylor now craved the other two titles to become the undisputed super lightweight champion.

His opportunity to achieve that goal came in May of 2021. Another rugged champion lay in wait. Jose Ramirez of California, then 26-0, held the WBC and WBO versions of the crown and would be no pushover in Las Vegas. Of course, between beating Prograis and facing Ramirez, the global pandemic occurred, which put the brakes on the momentum of many boxers. During this period, Taylor also ended his association with Cyclone Promotions. The Scotsman claimed breaches of contract as he signed on with Top Rank. Parting with Cyclone meant McGuigan would no longer be training Taylor. Taylor would now be trained by Ben Davison.

Taylor, then 17-0, could still display his aggressive style at that time, and it served him well as he survived a few rocky moments on the way to flooring Ramirez twice, which helped secure a unanimous decision win for the Scotsman.

The win saw Taylor crowned the first, and so far only, male boxer from the UK undisputed champion in the four-belt era—quite an achievement.

In just under six years, Taylor ascended to the top of his weight class. The hard fights along the way served him well, but one can also not help but feel that they accelerated Monday’s announcement. It’s a point of debate – should talented boxers take their time and find a cautious path to the top, or should they go all in and try to get there as quickly as possible? Timing and opportunity played a part too, but Taylor’s road was clearly the latter of those two options.

A Sad Closing Chapter For Josh Taylor

As uplifting as Taylor’s rise to the top was, the comedown from the peak was sad to witness. Injuries, periods of inactivity, and another trainer change punctuated the final years of Taylor’s career.

Since that glory night against Ramirez in 2021, Taylor has gloved up only four times. A knee and then a foot injury hampered him. Deciding to stay at 140 pounds didn’t do him any favors either when it was clear to see it was a struggle for the 5’10” fighter who was now the wrong side of 30 to make weight.

Trainer Davison was jettisoned after Taylor was judged to have defeated Jack Catterall on points in Glasgow in February 2022. Most observers had Catterall as the winner.

Joe McNally took over training duties, but it would be another 16 months before we would see Taylor box again. A shell of the Tartan Tornado turned up in New York to be outclassed by Teofimo Lopez at the Madison Square Garden Theatre.

The decline was there for all to see. Taylor was slowly moving away from the all-action style he utilized under McGuigan – perhaps he could no longer fight in that manner, perhaps certain trainers were over-thinking things and trying to reinvent the wheel. But like many fighters before him, Taylor carried on. May 2024 saw Catterall avenge his defeat  – Taylor was beaten on points for the second consecutive fight.

Finally, 12 months later, Taylor stepped up to welterweight. He had already undergone eye surgery before facing Ekow Essuman in Glasgow in May of this year. Again, Taylor fell to a points defeat.

It has been a few weeks since then, and Taylor has clearly been wrestling with what to do next. His last four outings in the ring, coupled with the medical advice he has received, suggest his decision to retire is a sensible one.

Summing It Up

Although it didn’t end in grand fashion or on his terms, Taylor’s time in boxing will be remembered for a long time by followers of the sport.

In Scottish terms, his name carries weight among the best fighters who have hailed from this small part of the world throughout history. From Benny Lynch and Walter McGowan in bygone eras to Ken Buchanan, Jim Watt, and Ricky Burns more recently. It is a fine list to be included on.

In UK terms, boxing journalist and historian Steve Bunce mentioned on the BBC Boxing Podcast that Taylor was a top 15 all-time UK boxer. That’s a phenomenal accolade.

During his run to the top of the super lightweight division, Taylor (who bows out with a record of 19-3, 13KOs) brought big nights of boxing back to Scotland. As a fellow Scot, it was a pleasure to follow his progress and write about his fights for various outlets over the years.

The brutal reality within boxing is that each impressive win and every tough fight takes something away from the protagonist. Taylor is a modern-day example of this.

The title of Scotland’s National Anthem is “Flower of Scotland.” From 2015-2021, when Taylor was that aggressive combination puncher who loved a brawl on the inside and left it all in the ring, Scotland’s flower in the boxing world was in full bloom. We knew it wouldn’t last forever, but we are grateful to have been around to witness it. Thanks for the great nights, Josh. Enjoy your retirement.