JOSH Taylor is so confident of lifting the Ali Trophy in a fortnight’s time that he has set aside space for it in his trophy cabinet. The Tartan Tornado faces Regis Prograis at the o2 in London on the night of Saturday October 26 with both his IBF super lightweight title and the American’s WBA belt on the lines, not to mention the respected Ring magazine belt and the chance to call yourself a World Boxing Super Series champion. A bumper Scottish travelling support is expected to make the journey to take in a bill which also features former three-time world champion Ricky Burns and a confident Taylor says he can already visualise victory.
“It would mean the world to me,” said Taylor. “I’ve envisioned and visualised this for ages since this tournament came around. I’ve been visualising lifting that trophy, all the belts around my waist. Posing for the pictures at the end of the fight with the belts and the trophy. It will look nice in the corner there, in the trophy cabinet, it will look nice in the house. I’m looking forward to taking it home.”
Having breezed past Ryan Martin in his quarter final, Commonwealth amateur champion Taylor took a few shots en route to being crowned world champion for the first time against Ivan Baranchyk. While he feels that Prograis – a victor against first Terry Flanagan and then Kiryl Relikh - has had an easier route to this WBSS showdown, he goes into the fight in confident mood.
I think Regis has had the easier route, picked the easier fights obviously. He has done the job, fair play, but he has fought twoguys you know one as a lightweight going up who was gune shy and scared to throw a punch. No disrepects to Terry because he’s a good fighter, a good lad but he#s not a super lightweight. Relikh looked like a weight drained old guy and Reigs did the job, Fair pkay we are in the final.
“I’m feeling great,” said Taylor. “All the hard training is almost done and I’m feeling in great shape. I’m going to have a great support from both sides of the border. I have always wanted to box at The o2 on a massive show and I can’t wait. A unification fight and the Ali Trophy. I can’t ask for anything better.
“Its going to be a very skilful fight. The two best lads in the division going for it. We are both undefeated, we are both hungry for more success so it’s going to be a really interesting fight.”
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