Josh Taylor (boxer)

Josh Taylor (born 2 January 1991) is a Scottish professional boxer. He is a unified light-welterweight champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, and Ring magazine titles since 2019. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth light-welterweight title from 2016 to 2017. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2014 edition.

Josh Taylor
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Tartan Tornado
Weight(s)	Light-welterweight
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach	69 ^1⁄2 in (177 cm)
Nationality	Scottish
Born	(1991-01-02) 2 January 1991[1] Prestonpans, Scotland
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	16
Wins	16
Wins by KO	12
Losses	0
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Scotland Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Light-welterweight 2010 Delhi Lightweight Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 Pune Lightweight

As of May 2020, he is ranked as the world's best active light-welterweight by BoxRec and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. With 12 of his 16 wins coming by way of stoppage, he currently has a 75% knockout-to-win ratio.

Amateur career

Taylor was a junior taekwondo champion, and turned to boxing at 15. He spent a short time at Meadowbank ABC and then moved onto Lochend ABC under coach Terry McCormack of Edinburgh.[2] Taylor won a silver medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where he was beaten by Thomas Stalker in the lightweight final by 11–3.[3]

Following the European Qualifying Event in Trabzon, Turkey, the ACB Lochend boxer qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, losing to number two seed Domenico Valentino in the round of 16.[4] Taylor became the first lightweight Scottish boxer to qualify for the Olympics since Dick McTaggart, who won a gold medal in Melbourne in 1956 and a bronze in Rome at the following games.[5]

He reached a Commonwealth Games final again in 2014,[6] this time at light-welterweight. Taylor won the gold medal, defeating Junias Jonas of Namibia in the final.[7] Taylor also represented the British Lionhearts at the World Series of Boxing.[8]

Professional career

Taylor started his professional career in June 2015, signing with Barry McGuigan's Cyclone Promotions, and is trained by Shane McGuigan.[2][9][10] Taylor made his debut in July 2015, defeating Archie Weah with a second round technical knockout (TKO).

In his seventh fight, Taylor picked up the Commonwealth light-welterweight title by beating Dave Ryan with a fifth-round stoppage. Ryan went down twice over the course of the bout. Ryan had previously held the title between 2014 and 2015.[11] Taylor won his first seven fights by knockout (KO). His KO streak came to an end against Alfonso Olvera, who went eight rounds with Taylor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 28 January 2017. Taylor won the fight by unanimous decision (UD) with scores of 79–72, and 78-73 twice. On 24 March Taylor defended his Commonwealth title for the first time, beating Warren Joubert with a sixth-round TKO, after hurting him several times with left hooks. Joubert went down in round six and his corner threw in the towel.[12]

Taylor vs Davies

On 8 July Taylor faced WBC Silver champion and fellow unbeaten prospect Ohara Davies. The two had previously taunted each other on Twitter. Taylor would also be defending the Commonwealth title.[13] He stopped Davies, dropping him once in round three and twice in round seven before the referee halted the contest.[14]

Taylor vs Vázquez

Taylor defended his WBC Silver title against former lightweight world champion Miguel Vázquez on 11 November at the Royal Highland Centre.[15] Although Vázquez' style seemed to pose problems for Taylor in the early rounds, Taylor wore him down as the fight went on. Vázquez went down in round nine from body shots, and he failed to beat the count. This was Vázquez' first stoppage loss.[16]

On 18 January 2018 it was confirmed that Taylor would defend his WBC Silver light-welterweight title against veteran Humberto Soto on 3 March 2018, at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.[17] On 24 February 2018 it was revealed that Soto had sustained an injury whilst training meaning he had to pull out the fight. On the same day, Winston Campos was announced as his replacement.[18]

Taylor vs Postol

In June 2018, Taylor fought former WBC light-welterweight champion, Viktor Postol, gaining a UD win in a twelve-round fight, meaning that he was placed in the mandatory position to fight WBC light-welterweight champion, José Ramírez.[19] The fight took place at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow.[20]

World Boxing Super Series

Main article: 2018–19 World Boxing Super Series – Super lightweight division

On 30 June 2018, it was announced that Taylor would join fellow light welterweights Ryan Martin, Terry Flanagan, Regis Prograis, Eduard Troyanovsky, Anthony Yigit, Ivan Baranchyk and WBA champion, Kiryl Relikh in the eight man tournament.

Taylor vs Martin

At a gala held in Moscow, Taylor selected to fight Ryan Martin in the quarter-finals. Taylor dominated the fight with Martin throwing few punches. In the seventh round, Taylor landed a flurry of punches that staggered Martin which resulted in referee Victor Loughlin stopping the fight.[21]

Taylor vs Baranchyk

Taylor won his first world title, the IBF light-welterweight title, by UD against Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow on 18 May 2019. Taylor scored two knockdowns in the fight.

Taylor vs Prograis

Taylor won a unification bout against WBA (Super) light-welterweight champion Regis Prograis by majority decision (MD) in the final of the World Boxing Super Series at The O2 Arena in London on 26 October 2019.[22] The fight was shown live on Sky Sports Box Office. Two judges scored the fight 117–112 and 115–113 in favour of Taylor while the third scored it a draw at 114–114. Taylor lifted the Muhammad Ali Trophy as the winner of the 2018-19 World Boxing Super Series – Light-welterweight division along with the vacant Ring magazine title.[23]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

16 fights	16 wins	0 losses
By knockout	12	0
By decision	4	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
16	Win	16–0	Regis Prograis	MD	12	26 Oct 2019	The O2 Arena, London, England	Retained IBF light-welterweight title; Won WBA (Super) and vacant The Ring light-welterweight titles; World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight final
15	Win	15–0	Ivan Baranchyk	UD	12	18 May 2019	SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland	Won IBF light-welterweight title; World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight semi-final
14	Win	14–0	Ryan Martin	TKO	7 (12), 2:21	3 Nov 2018	SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland	Retained WBC Silver light-welterweight title; World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight quarter-final
13	Win	13–0	Viktor Postol	UD	12	23 Jun 2018	SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland	Retained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
12	Win	12–0	Winston Campos	TKO	3 (12), 0:44	3 Mar 2018	SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland	Retained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
11	Win	11–0	Miguel Vázquez	KO	9 (12), 2:30	11 Nov 2017	Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland	Retained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
10	Win	10–0	Ohara Davies	TKO	7 (12), 2:25	8 Jul 2017	Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland	Retained Commonwealth light-welterweight title; Won WBC Silver light-welterweight title
9	Win	9–0	Warren Joubert	TKO	6 (12), 1:27	24 Mar 2017	Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland	Retained Commonwealth light-welterweight title
8	Win	8–0	Alfonso Olvera	UD	8	28 Jan 2017	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
7	Win	7–0	Dave Ryan	TKO	5 (12), 2:45	21 Oct 2016	Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland	Won vacant Commonwealth light-welterweight title
6	Win	6–0	Evincii Dixon	RTD	2 (8), 3:00	30 Jul 2016	Barclays Center, New York City, New York, US
5	Win	5–0	Miguel Alberto González Mena	TKO	1 (6), 1:33	14 May 2016	Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales
4	Win	4–0	Lyes Chaibi	KO	2 (6), 1:40	27 Feb 2016	Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
3	Win	3–0	Daniel Cosmin Minescu	TKO	1 (4), 0:45	20 Nov 2015	Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2	Win	2–0	Adam Mate	TKO	1 (6), 1:25	16 Oct 2015	Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
1	Win	1–0	Archie Weah	TKO	2 (6), 1:53	18 Jul 2015	Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, US

Pay-per-view bouts

Pay-per-view bouts in the United Kingdom

Date	Fight	Network	Pay-per-view buys	Source(s)
26 October 2019	Josh Taylor vs. Regis Prograis	Sky Box Office
	Total sales	Sky Box Office

Personal life

Taylor has been a supporter of Hibernian F.C. since he was a child.[24]

In December 2019, Taylor was arrested and charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner due to an incident whilst partying in Edinburgh. After being asked to leave a nightclub, he said a bouncer's "nose ring is gay", and referred to the bouncer as a "gay-looking cunt" and a "big orange-looking cunt".[25] Taylor later pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was fined £350. He said on Twitter afterwards, "I whole heartedly apologise for my stupid actions. It has been a rollercoaster of a year for me, becoming unified world champion and on this occasion I've taken it too far."[26]

See also

• Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics

References

1. "Biography Preview". AIBA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
2. "About Me". Josh Taylor Boxing.
3. "England's Thomas Stalker kicks off gold rush for home nations' boxing stars". Daily Mail. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
4. Davies, Gareth A. "London 2012 Olympics: Boxer Josh Taylor crashes out after 15-10 loss to number two seed Domenico Valentino". The Telegraph. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
5. "Scotland's Josh Taylor secures London 2012 boxing spot in qualifiers". The Guardian. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
6. Glasgow 2014: Josh Taylor into the 64kg final with unanimous win, BBC Sport
7. Dirs, Ben (2 August 2014). "Glasgow 2014: Northern Ireland win first golds as Scots also shine". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
8. "Josh Taylor - British Lionhearts". Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
9. "Josh Taylor: Commonwealth gold medallist targets success as pro". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
10. Lewis, Jane (14 October 2015). "Bio". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
11. "Josh Taylor outclasses Dave Ryan for first title success". 21 October 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
12. "Scotland's Josh Taylor sees off Warren Joubert to defend Commonwealth title". 24 March 2017 – via www.bbc.com.
13. "Davies vs. Taylor set for 7/8 in Glasgow".
14. "Taylor stops Davies in Glasgow".
15. "Josh Taylor vs Miguel Vazquez set for November 11".
16. "Josh Taylor Knocks Out Miguel Vazquez in Ninth Round".
17. "Josh Taylor to meet Humberto Soto in Glasgow". 14 October 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
18. "Josh Taylor to defend title against Winston Campos after injury to Humberto Soto". 24 February 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
20. "Josh Taylor aims to keep it perfect against Viktor Postol". The Independent. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
21. "World Boxing Super Series: Josh Taylor beats Ryan Martin to book semi-final title shot". 3 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
22. "Boxing: Josh Taylor beats Regis Prograis on points to unify IBF & WBA super-lightweight titles". BBC Sport. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
23. "Josh Taylor outpoints Regis Prograis via majority decision, wins WBSS 140-pound final and Ring title". The Ring Magazine. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
24. "World champ Josh enjoys special day at Hibs". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
25. "Josh Taylor pleads guilty to racial abuse". The Independent. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
26. "Josh Taylor pleads guilty to racist and homophobic abuse of nightclub doorman". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

External links

Regional boxing titles
Vacant Title last held by John Wayne Hibbert	Commonwealth light-welterweight champion 21 October 2016 – January 2018 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Glenn Foot
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by Ohara Davies	WBC Silver light-welterweight champion 8 July 2017 – May 2019 Vacated	Vacant
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by Ivan Baranchyk	IBF light-welterweight champion 18 May 2019 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Regis Prograis	WBA light-welterweight champion Super title 26 October 2019 – present
Vacant Title last held by Terence Crawford	The Ring light-welterweight champion 26 October 2019 – present

• Boxing record for Josh Taylor from BoxRec
• Profile on AIBA