JOSH Taylor isn’t world champion yet. But the 27-year-old is at least assured of a shot at glory after joining US phenomenon Terence Crawford as the only two men to have defeated Ukraine’s Viktor Postol in a taut WBC Super Lightweight final eliminator at the SSE Hydro. In the end, despite having his man on the canvas in the tenth round, he couldn’t quite knock the Iceman cold. But then Crawford couldn’t either.

Pitting together the No 1 and No 2 contenders in the rankings, the winner knew he would become mandatory challenger for the belt currently owned by Jose Ramirez of the USA, most likely in one of the most illustrious arenas in world boxing. While the Scot will savour the chance to become the first Scottish world champion since Ricky Burns lost the WBA belt at his weight class in April 2017, Postol was left wondering where he career goes now after falling short in his attempt to win back the belt he formerly wore. While the Ukrainian is a wily veteran of 30 pro fights, this was only Taylor’s 13th outing as a professional. It only proved unlucky for the Ukrainian, who lost a unanimous decision with scores of 118-110, 117-110, 119-108. 

Striding out to One Step Beyond by Madness, Taylor knew victory could see him take a giant leap forward. The early stages were cagey, with the Ukrainian first to take the initiative and the Scot able to dance his way out of trouble. The Scot was more assertive in the second round, drawing a cut above the 34-year-old’s right eye. 

Postol, beaten only once in 11 years as a pro, and not even stopped by Crawford, knows how to take a shot and he absorbed a huge Taylor left hand in the third. The fourth and fifth rounds were more even, and the seventh round in particular put Taylor into more difficulty than at any previous point in his pro career, leaving Shane McGuigan in his corner barking out instructions. But the Tartan Tornado weathered the storm and came again in the ninth, landing a big one right at the bell.  

Any respite Postol felt was temporary. The bell saved him again in the tenth, but only after being caught by a huge left which saw him hit the canvas and subjected to an eight count. The Ukrainian was on fumes now, hanging on in the last two rounds, as Taylor opened up in search of the stoppage, but Postol's pride at least took it all the way to points.