Boxing: Fighting talk for Josh Taylor and Alex Arthur

Behind the modest doors of Lochend Amateur Boxing Club, Josh Taylor has just finished his morning training. He has changed into jeans and a T-shirt but the remnants of perspiration from the hard graft still gather in beads on his brow.

He is joined by a legend in the sport, Alex Arthur, the former British, Commonwealth, European and WBO super featherweight champion. As they sit side-by-side on a red bench surrounded by framed memorabilia from past victories, the bond between them is obvious.

Arthur gets up and walks over to a nearby speedball hanging from the ceiling. "I just can't help myself," he says, grinning as he rattles it with punches.

In the corner is a trophy plaque to which a handwritten Post-it note has been stuck. It reads: "Josh Taylor: Glasgow 2014 light welterweight gold medallist." The Commonwealth Games may not be officially opened until Wednesday, but there is no doubting the colour of medal that Taylor visualises around his neck come the closing ceremony on August 3.

One of the Sunday Herald's Six To Follow, Taylor is among the 10-strong squad of boxers who will represent Team Scotland at the Games. The 23-year-old from Prestonpans, East Lothian, will compete in the 64kg light welterweight class with his pursuit of gold getting under way on July 26.

He and Arthur first met when Taylor, who took silver in Delhi four years ago, was a teenager. "My training camp for a lot of my professional fights was at Meadowbank and Josh's mum Diane is a receptionist there," says Arthur. "Josh would come up on his school holidays. I think the first time was when I was training to defend my European title. His mum would send him up to the gym and he'd hit the bags while we were training."

Beside him Taylor smiles at the memory. "I would have been about 15 then," he recalls. "I'd been doing Taekwondo for about 10 years and was getting bored of it. I had been to see a couple of Alex's fights and always watched them on telly. One day my mum asked if I wanted to watch him training. I was sitting there like this" - his jaw drops - "and I remember thinking: 'Wow, that's Alex Arthur'. I was definitely a bit starstruck, but I couldn't resist hitting the bags."

As Taylor makes his final preparations for the Games, the pair talk about their close relationship, silver being the cruellest position to finish in and the journey to Glasgow 2014.

What are your earliest standout memories of watching each other box?

Taylor: "When Alex won the European title and was preparing for his world title fights he would bring me in to help me along. He would let me do some sparring with him, teaching me little tricks on how to move and hit the body. I was learning all the time from him. It was brilliant to watch Alex, how he trained, hit the bag and skipped. His technique and everything he did was down to a tee."

Arthur: "Straightaway I could tell Josh had talent. It was something I could see automatically. Myself, and Josh now, you can spot a young kid who has talent, you can tell right away from how they stand, their poise and the way their body moves when they are throwing punches. You can see the way their eye reacts, small intricate details. I could see all of that in Josh.

"I remember watching him as a young amateur at a local show in Edinburgh. I think he was fighting for Gilmerton and was about 16. Josh was a total standout to all the other boxers in the show. The way he used his reach to his advantage and he was much faster than everyone else. I have seen loads of young lads who are really quick, but their feet and hands are normally faster than their brains. But with Josh everything was in sync. He would hit you with three shots then was gone and the other young lad was left standing there wondering what had happened.

"The only thing that used to frustrate me was that Josh used to lose his temper easily and then he would lose focus."

Taylor: "I used to be quite hot-headed. Before when I was training or sparring and things didn't work out the way I wanted them to I used to spit the dummy. That comes from perfectionism because I wanted to do it right all the time. But I've learned that it doesn't happen overnight. You have to work at it. It is something that has come through maturity and experience."

Arthur: "I wasn't as hot-headed as Josh. But there has to be a fire burning in your belly because if there isn't you can't fight at the top level, it's as simple as that. I remember a quote from one of the training camps we did years ago and it was: 'You need fire in your belly, but a nice cool mind'. That always stuck in my head and if I ever felt agitated I always tried to store it up and use it the right way. Like Josh says, that comes with experience and maturing as an athlete and fighter."

When you went to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, did you believe you would take gold?

Arthur: "I actually tried to convince myself that I was going to win and put a lot of pressure on myself. I'd had a really good two years and my world amateur ranking was really high. I deliberately put pressure on myself so I would perform. Every boxer knows what makes them tick. I knew that would get me going. It wasn't uncommon for me to tell people: 'I'm going to win the gold medal'.

"They [the media] kept hitting me with: 'But what about the Australian, he's just beaten the Olympic champion', but I was confident I could beat him because he was really short. I thought my reach would be able to keep him at distance. I had done all the preparation, so I knew I was at 110% when I got there."

How does it feel to stand on top of the podium in a Scotland vest with a gold medal around your neck?

Arthur: "Hearing the national anthem and waving the Saltire, feeling that emotion and knowing that back home all of your family were watching, it was an amazing moment. I still feel it was the ultimate accolade of my career. I had to fight five times for the gold medal. It was 110F and there was no air conditioning in the arena. Physically, even with all the preparation I'd done, it was difficult. But I think it's the fact I won for my country. It wasn't for money or a promoter: it was for pride. How often do you get to do that in your life?

"It would have been amazing to have done it on home turf. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. But for me I was glad I got a lovely faraway trip and to see another country and continent. You can go to Glasgow any day of the week."

Are you looking forward to pulling on a Scotland vest in front of a home crowd, Josh?

Taylor: "Every time I go away with GB I put a Scotland vest on and that is something which is important to me. It's that passion to fight for me and Scotland.

"I've visualised standing on top of that Commonwealth Games podium a thousand times. When I'm out running and shattered, I think about my main threat Sam Maxwell of England and imagine him out running as well. I can hear Flower of Scotland playing in my head and it makes me pick myself up to run faster.

"Competing at London 2012 has definitely prepared me for what lies ahead. Coming out to that crowd at the Olympics was something else: I thought the roof was going to lift off. There were 10,000 people shouting: 'Taylor'. It was an unbelievable feeling but I think this is going to be even better because it's a Scottish crowd. I feel calm and ready to go."

Is second the cruellest position to finish in, tougher than third or fourth?

Taylor: "Definitely silver. You are so close."

Arthur: "You are right there, you can smell it. In boxing fourth place gets a medal. Both the runners-up in the semi-finals get bronze."

Taylor: "You've put yourself under pressure because you have three fights to win before you get a medal. Once you get to that stage you think: 'Great, I've got a medal'. But then you want to change the colour of the medal. When you win the bronze medal stage and are guaranteed silver, in the final you need to give it that last push. Last time around in Delhi I think it was inexperience that beat me. I got myself too het up. I wanted it too much and tried too hard.

"Silver is still a great achievement. After three days it sunk in: 'I've only been boxing four years and I've got a silver medal.' But at first I wanted to throw it away. I was raging and upset because I had come so close."

You would have been too young to have seen Alex win gold in Kuala Lumpur, but have you watched a recording?

Taylor: "By the time I was watching Alex he was competing for world and European championships as a professional. But I have watched his Commonwealth Games fight from 1998 on YouTube loads of times, especially before the last Games when we were sparring together. Alex gave me tips on how to win on the computer scoring. Watching him back on YouTube you can see how he kept moving and hitting. It was more of a game of tig back then than physical. It's quite funny because as a pro he was bigger, stronger and knocking people out all the time. As an amateur he was built very similar to myself, tall and rangy. I used to like studying it to see how he did it. Obviously he's orthodox and I'm southpaw, so it's opposite stance but it was good to watch him and learn from that."

What advice would you give Josh to deal with the pressure of Glasgow?

Arthur: "He's already been to a Commonwealth Games and an Olympics so he has the experience now. He knows in himself how to cope with that pressure. What I would advise anyone to do is try to enjoy it because if you do that you will perform to the best of your ability. That is the key."

Taylor: "I agree. If you are enjoying what you are doing then you are happy, more relaxed and everything comes naturally rather than if you feel tense and thinking: 'I need to do this'. That makes you tense and while you can still perform, you may be lacking that extra 5% it takes to win."

What are the key attributes you need to be a boxer?

Taylor: "Calm. Clever. Boxing is like chess."

Arthur: "Passion is the key ingredient. You have to be passionate about your training, what you eat and competition. If your passion levels are 100% then everything else seems a wee bit easier."

Taylor: "You need the desire to win. If you don't have that you will settle for silver."

How difficult is it to stop outside influences creeping in to affect your focus?

Taylor: "It's a lonely sport. You have your mates around you, but they aren't going through the same things you are. They will say: 'Just come out for a wee while' but you are too shattered after training and end up just sitting at home by yourself. But you are doing it because you want to win and that makes it easy to make those sacrifices."

Arthur: "As a boxer you virtually have to give up normal life. When you are competing you can't go out or socialise with your friends. It everyone is going out for a meal, you can't eat the food. You have to train when they are partying and having fun. Most dedicated young boxers who go on to become successful miss out on a huge part of growing up. Things like holidays with your mates, going out drinking, all those rites of passage in your late teens and 20s, we miss them all."

Taylor: "Since the last Commonwealth Games I've wanted to go to T in the Park to see the Arctic Monkeys. I've had five or six chances to see them at different gigs or festivals but I've never been yet. I had tickets to see them in Glasgow and I couldn't go because I needed to train."

Arthur: "I've still not been to T in the Park - and I'm retired."

Taylor: "You put your whole life on hold for boxing."

Arthur: "It's true. You absolutely do."

How do you deal with the ups and downs of sport?

Arthur: "There are always high and low points. You have to learn how to deal with that as you go and adapt mentally. There is adversity in any sport. The low points of my career included problems with injury and missing out on fights because of that. When I had my first defeat, I wasn't prepared for it. I thought all I had to do was show up because I'd been knocking everyone out, that I didn't need to try to beat this guy because he wasn't in my league, and I lost the fight.

"People have often said: 'That must have been devastating'. But it wasn't. I got a lot of money for it and it helped me understand that I had to prepare myself properly and train as hard as I'd always trained. The thought of that actually picked me back up. You can't let it get you down. You can bury your head in the sand for a day or so, but you then have to use that to work for you in the future. That is what I always tried to do."

Taylor: "I definitely agree. Sometimes when you go to tournaments you get a run of bad judging decisions and in your head you think: 'I won that fight'. Then at the next one the same thing happens. You can start to get that feeling of thinking: 'This isn't worth it.' How do you stop yourself throwing in the towel? Because you love the sport. It can work both ways with the judging. There are times I've had bouts where I've thought: 'I was a wee bit lucky there'. It's like a rollercoaster up and down all the time.

How do you cope with becoming a household name?

Arthur: "It didn't happen overnight. I first started experiencing it after I won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur. I'd be walking down the street and people would start pointing at me. I'd be out with my mates and people would come up and start chatting. I was like: 'Goodness, is this what it's like to be well known?'. Throughout my professional career it kept spiralling to the point where I would be going abroad and people there knew me. It's something that doesn't happen overnight with boxers so it's easy to cope with. Josh will be experiencing that now."

Taylor: "It's a great feeling knowing that what you are doing is being recognised. I love it. I'll be walking along the street like Alex says or out for a meal with mates and people will be pointing you out. Before the Commonwealth Games last time I was unknown and had only been boxing four years. Then all of a sudden I was a silver medallist. Going back to Prestonpans, East Lothian, where I'm from, everyone knew who I was. I was taken aback at first but you get used to it and I do like it. It's great seeing young kids excited about boxing and being able to inspire them. If you can help two out of a hundred kids into sport and off the street then that's a good feeling.

Arthur: "Success breeds success. My success has led on to Josh's success and there are young kids out there who will want to be the next Josh Taylor. It's brilliant for sport in Scotland generally, not just boxing. To be here now and feel the aura,

that Josh is mentally prepared, I can tell he's ready. That is exciting. Am I a little bit nervous? I probably am. I didn't get nervous when I was fighting but I feel it in this build-up stage just hoping that Josh and the other Scottish guys can win medals.

"I do feel almost like a big brother to Josh. A lot of fighters get taken advantage of because they are so focused on their goals. If I was ever to see that happen to Josh I would be quick to step in. I would have loved someone to give me that inside knowledge and guidance. Josh knows if he needs anything I'm always here for him."

Taylor: "It's good to hear that and always great to get Alex's advice as someone who has been there and done it."

How hard was it for you to retire, Alex - was it the right decision?

Arthur: "It was. I had just turned 35 and had promised my family that I wouldn't box past my 35th birthday. I was led to believe I wasn't too far away from another championship match but it could have been another six to eight months. I wasn't willing to wait and put myself through all that again. There were a few health issues too. I could have kept boxing but it was the best thing to retire. I didn't want to break that promise to my family. I started boxing when I was 12 so it was a long time to put my body through all that.

"I've been kept busy in retirement and have more on now than when I was fighting. The time you have on your hands when you are fighting, you use it to rest because you are knackered but now I seem to have so much to do - it's crazy. I'm going through my to-do list. It's things like going to concerts, eating whatever you want - going on an all-inclusive holiday.

"Do I miss the competitive element? Of course I do. Every day I miss it. But it's just something you have got to learn to live with. At first it's very difficult because you are used to being in the limelight and preparing for the big events. The eyes were all on you, but then all of a sudden nothing. Your life has been all mapped out for years and then you have to get your head around it no longer being that way. It's a massive process.

"I spoke to one sports psychologist who likened retiring from boxing to coming out of the Army. You are so regimented and training hard on a daily basis for years. Then, when you become a civilian, there are things that need addressing that you didn't even give a second thought to when you were boxing because nothing else mattered. He likened it to being on a crazy rollercoaster. You are on the ride, so everything is happening for you and you aren't thinking about anything else. But then, when it stops, you have to get off and go mingle with the sedentary people. It's things like doing laundry, going shopping and paying the bills. It's really strange coming to terms with that."

How important have your family been on your journey to Glasgow 2014, Josh?

Taylor: "They have been so supportive. Without my mum and dad I wouldn't be where I am today. In the run-up to the last Games I got paid off from three jobs due to the fact I had to keep missing work through training and going to competitions. I had no money to even come to the gym but my parents helped me out.

"I hated taking money off them but I wouldn't be able to do this otherwise. I'm so thankful for what they have done for me. After I left school I did a mechanics course and managed to get some work doing that, but then switched to sports coaching and fitness. I worked as a lifeguard at a leisure centre but I kept having to take time off for boxing. It was impossible to do both. That was it: no job. But I was so focused on what I wanted to do I didn't have a choice. My little sister Finch has been so supportive and my girlfriend Danielle has been there for me 100%. I train in Sheffield during the week with the GB team and travel a lot for competition. People often say to me: 'You've seen the world' but the truth is I've only seen bits of it. All you see is the airport, the place where you are staying and a boxing gym. I was in Australia recently and all I did was either train in a boxing gym or rest in my room."

Arthur: "That's definitely true. There are a lot of places I'd like to go back to and see properly, especially Kuala Lumpur. I did get to explore it a bit during the 1998 Games. We went to Petronas Towers, which was the tallest building in the world at the time. My team-mates and I went to all the street stalls and tried cooked tarantulas and snakes."

Taylor: "Ooft. I wouldn't be doing that. I would love to take my family to India and let them see Delhi. They weren't with me in 2010 and only got to watch from home on the telly so it would be nice to show them that, the whole culture shock. There were snakes in the rooms and crazy stuff like that. I remember just before my weigh-in for the first fight I was on the track at the stadium doing sprints when this big baboon came flying out of the tunnel and started running towards us all. It went up into the stands and these guys who were chasing it managed to corner it. But then it turned on them and started chasing them.

Arthur: "A baboon would kill a weight-making boxer any day of the week."

Taylor: "I definitely wasn't hanging about to see what happened next. I was off and out of there."

What are you most looking forward to about the Games?

Taylor: "I love the atmosphere of being in the Athletes' Village. Everyone is buzzing and it's fantastic seeing all the different athletes from other countries. Even small things like swapping your country's badges and collecting them all on a hat."

Arthur: "It's tremendous. Great fun. Other athletes are generally nicer than boxers. All the boxing lads know each other, we will all say hi and some of us are mates but it's more of a lone wolf situation. Especially prior to the competition, you will maybe see a few of the fighters from England or Northern Ireland and shake hands but there is no camaraderie. Whereas the athletes they'll be hugging you and chatting away, they are much more relaxed."

Taylor: "Because as boxers we know what is coming after it. You are thinking: 'When I get you in the ring, you are getting it.'"

Arthur: "Definitely. You don't want to be too nice to the enemy."

Taylor: "Once I've finished competing I will look to get some photos with other athletes. That selfie thing is right in just now, isn't it?"

Arthur: "It was disposable cameras in my day rather than mobile phone snaps."

Taylor: "I've got loads of photos from the last Commonwealth Games and Olympics so I'm looking forward to taking as many as I can. It would be good to meet Usain Bolt because I think I was the only one on Team GB at London 2012 who didn't bump into him."

Turning pro Josh, is that something way off in the future?

Taylor: "I feel like I fell a bit short in the Olympics in London. I'm frustrated every time I watch the fight I lost because I feel I could definitely have come away with a medal."

Arthur: "You should have won that fight."

Taylor: "It would be good to go to Rio and have another chance.

Arthur: "If Josh makes the team for Rio, I'll be there. I love watching Josh fight. For me, there is no-one else in Scotland that excites me as much as Josh. I believe he is the next great fighter from here and the fact I've known him since he was so young plays a big part. Sometimes it feels like there is a tiny bit of me in there fighting too. I get a huge buzz from it.

"I struggled to watch the Olympics. According to my wife I did all the rounds, boxing every one with him. I supposedly stood as a southpaw when I was doing it as well."

Taylor: "It's brilliant to hear Alex say that. My idol when I was younger is now supporting me to hopefully where he went in the game and become world champion as well. It's amazing."

Arthur: "In Glasgow I will be there to watch Josh fight. I will be working for the BBC and doing what I can to help Team Scotland, but when Josh is fighting I will be ringside to watch the fight. I might lose my job, but I'll be there."

Taylor: "It will be good to shut up all those down the road who are saying Sam Maxwell is going to beat me. Hearing that spurs me on. We train together with the GB team in Sheffield so I know they will be using video analysis to try to pick up what they can to beat me. But he's not going to beat me. It will be a close, hard fight but I'm more than confident of beating him. It doesn't matter how much video analysis they have - I'm going

to win."