Josh Taylor insists he is "90 per cent" confident that Ivan Baranchyk will be his opponent for the World Boxing Super Series semi-final in Glasgow next month.
WBC Silver super lightweight champion Taylor’s bout with the Belarussian has been in doubt after Baranchyk’s manager David McWater recently claimed that his client had pulled out of the tournament.
The pair are scheduled to enter the ring at the SSE Hydro on May 18 for a place in the final and for Baranchyk’s IBF world title.
Tickets for the fight went on sale last week and Taylor says he is preparing to face Baranchyk.
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He said: “I don’t pay attention to any of it really, I’m just focussing on May 18 and focussing on Baranchyk but if the opponent does change, which I think is unlikely, then I’ll adapt and change my style but I’m not too fussed.
“I’m focussing on May 18 and I’ll be fighting May 18 and it’s 90 per cent looking like Baranchyk.
“If it changes it changes, as long as I get to fight for that title.”
Taylor, who has won all of his 14 fights, admits the contest cannot come soon enough as the 28-year-old attempts to fulfil a career-long ambition.
Speaking to Boxing Social, he added: “I can’t wait, this is the fight I’ve been dreaming and training for to become world champion.
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“All those years of drumming it into myself, writing it on bits of paper, ‘Josh Taylor world champion, Josh Taylor world champion’, for years.
“That fight is now here and I’m going to grab it with both hands and bring that title back to Prestonpans and make that dream a reality and there is no way anyone is going to be beat me.”
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