JOSH TAYLOR'S apprenticeship is near completion, it would seem, judging by the hugely impressive manner of the Commonwealth super lightweight champion's clinical demolition of Warren Joubert on Friday evening.
The 26-year-old from Prestonpans evoked memories of the great Ken Buchanan in the way he went about making a successful first defence of his crown at Meadowbank Sports Centre.
Taylor left no stone unturned in his quest to eventually draw world champion Ricky Burns into what would undoubtedly be a sell-out bout sure to capture the imagination of Scotland's boxing fraternity.
Although still a novice in terms of experience after only nine professional contests, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist has not so far put a foot wrong.
Perhaps most importantly, Taylor is keen to go on learning after impressing himself with the way he coped with a degree of adversity against Joubert, whose end came one minute and 27 seconds into the sixth round.
Taylor's eighth stoppage came by dint of an explosive left hook that persuaded referee Victor Loughlin that the South African had endured sufficient punishment.
Having coped admirably with the psychology of boxing with a nasty injury when he sustained a deep gash above his left eye in the opening round following a clash of heads, Taylor declared: "I was impressed with that performance. I took my time because I didn’t know much about him and never really had a game plan, other than to go out and have a look at him and make sure I was boxing how I like to, nice and quick.
"Eventually I established my rhythm and started to catch him. I was hitting him with the feints and with the jab and then building on it and as he came in, the last shot was a peach. He is durable so it's a good statement. I think I am scaring a few folk and if I keep going the way I am and the big fights and the titles will come. There are exciting times ahead, definitely."
Taylor added: "That's the first time I've had a cut as a pro and I overcame it well. It is quite a bad one, but it didn't concern me.
"I felt I learned a lot about myself. Between rounds, I was nice and calm and it didn't faze me one bit, so now I know that when it gets tough it is not going to be a problem, I can keep my cool."
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