JOSH Taylor expects to have a Commonwealth belt to go with his Commonwealth gold medal next month after the 25-year-old from Prestonpans earned his maiden title shot in just his seventh fight as a professional. Taylor, crowned light welterweight champion at the Glasgow games in 2014, faces Dave Ryan of England for the vacant Commonwealth super lightweight belt at the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh, with the contest to be screened live on Channel 5.
The bout, over 12 rounds, represents a significant step up in class for the Scottish southpaw, who has boxed just nine rounds in six fights since turning professional in 2005, stopping all six of his previous opponents before any have so much as reached the third round. There was some fighting talk yesterday from Ryan, a 33-year-old veteran and former Commonwealth and WBC international champion who has wins on his resume against current British champion Tyrone Nurse, and his manager and trainer Clifton Mitchell to the effect that Taylor has taken on too much too soon. "It is going to be a tremendous fight, but we are coming up here to smash his face in," said Mitchell.
Unsurprisingly, Taylor - who has been training alongside stablemate Carl Frampton - took issue with this sentiment. "I am glad his manager thinks it is too soon for me and I am glad he [Ryan] thinks that it is too soon for me," said Taylor. "Because he is going to get a surprise, a big surprise. He is going to be surprised by how fast and talented I am.
"This guy has a lot of pedigree, he’s been in a few hard 12 round fights," added the Scot, who is trained by Shane McGuigan. "I know I’m involved in a real fight but that’s going to make me train that much harder. There’s no way I’m getting beat in front of my home fans.
"Two years ago I fought for the Commonwealth gold in Glasgow in front of 10,000 people. Two years on, I am boxing in my home arena, possibly in front of 4,000 people. It will be my first title as a professional and it is the commonwealth belt, so I don't need any more motivation than that right there. Believe me, it is happening, the belt is coming back to Prestonpans, that is for sure."
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