Josh Taylor

Early Life and Amateur Career

Josh Taylor, born on January 2, 1991, in Prestonpans, Scotland, showed early promise in the sport of boxing which would later define his career. Growing up in a supportive environment, Taylor’s athletic prowess was evident from a young age. He initially engaged in taekwondo, achieving a black belt, before fully committing to boxing at the age of 15, which marked the beginning of a distinguished amateur career.

Taylor’s amateur career was noteworthy for its rapid success. He first came into the limelight when he won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, competing as a light welterweight. This achievement was significant as it highlighted his potential on an international stage at a young age. Taylor’s style, characterized by sharp reflexes and strong technical skills, quickly made him a standout figure in amateur boxing circles.

In 2012, Taylor’s amateur success continued as he represented Great Britain at the London Olympics. Although he didn’t medal, the experience was invaluable for his development and exposure. Building on his Olympic experience, Taylor achieved his crowning amateur accomplishment in 2014 when he won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This victory was especially sweet, as it came in front of a home crowd, solidifying his status as one of Scotland’s top amateur boxers.

Throughout his amateur career, Taylor faced numerous formidable opponents, each contributing to his growth and skill refinement. His amateur record of 152 wins against only 12 losses underscores the extensive experience and high level of competence he developed before turning professional in 2015. This foundation laid a solid groundwork for his successful transition to the professional ranks, where he would continue to build on his impressive amateur legacy.

Professional Career

Josh Taylor launched his professional boxing career in June 2015 after signing with Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions and coming under the tutelage of Shane McGuigan. He made an impactful debut in July 2015, securing a technical knockout (TKO) against Archie Weah in the second round. Taylor quickly climbed the professional ranks, capturing the Commonwealth light-welterweight title in his seventh fight by defeating Dave Ryan via a fifth-round stoppage. Taylor initially maintained a perfect knockout record until he met Alfonso Olvera in January 2017 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This fight concluded with Taylor winning by unanimous decision, marking his first fight to go the distance.

In his subsequent fight, Taylor defended his Commonwealth title against Warren Joubert, achieving a sixth-round TKO after delivering a series of effective left hooks. This victory further established his dominance in the division. Taylor’s profile rose significantly when he faced Ohara Davies in July 2017, a match preceded by heated exchanges on social media. Taylor delivered a commanding performance, knocking Davies down three times and stopping him in the seventh round. Later in 2017, Taylor defended his WBC Silver title against Miguel Vázquez, overcoming early difficulties to secure a knockout in the ninth round, handing Vázquez his first stoppage loss. Taylor continued to defend his titles and in 2019, he joined the World Boxing Super Series. He won the IBF light-welterweight title by defeating Ivan Baranchyk and unified the division by beating Regis Prograis, lifting the Muhammad Ali Trophy as the series winner.

More recently, Taylor faced Apinun Khongsong in September 2020, defending his titles with a swift first-round knockout. In May 2021, he achieved undisputed status in the light-welterweight division by beating José Ramírez, becoming only the fifth man to hold all four major belts simultaneously in the four-belt era. His first defense of the undisputed title was controversial; Taylor faced Jack Catterall in February 2022 and secured a split decision win, which was widely criticized. Despite calls for a rematch due to the contentious nature of the decision, Taylor remained firm in his victory. In his most recent outing, Taylor defended his titles against Teofimo Lopez in June 2023 but was defeated by unanimous decision. This loss marked a significant moment in Taylor’s career as he faced a setback after a series of high-profile victories.