What Is Josh Taylor’s Next Move?

December 2, 2024

2 months

Eddie Hearn has outlined Josh Taylor’s next possible fight after increasing suggestions the Scot will sign with Matchroom Boxing.

Taylor is a former Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion, making him one of the best fighters to come out of Scotland. However, his current run of form suggests he is no longer at his peak. He suffered two consecutive losses against Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall. The loss against Lopez cost him his WBO Junior Welterweight Title, giving him his first career defeat. The Lopez performance followed after a controversial split decision win against Jack Catterall.

Most of the boxing community felt that Taylor had lost that fight, which was the first sign of his possible decline. After the Lopez loss, Taylor ran things back with Catterall. He was comprehensively beaten as Catterall gained revenge in a unanimous decision win. During this period, there were several question marks over whether Taylor should stay at 140 or move up 147 pounds. He previously suggested that he could move up to 147 to target another title and become a two-weight world champion.

Taylor At 147

“I’ve decided now, I’m going to move up to welterweight. It’s more motivation for me than anything. I feel like if I stay at my weight, I’ve got nothing else to achieve. I’ll go up to 147 and want to achieve more greatness in terms of becoming a two-weight world champion. With Crawford being stripped of his (IBF) belt, it opens up the division so maybe I can be the guy to become a two-weight undisputed world champion,” Taylor stated

If he moved up to 147, there is a possible fight against the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. There is also the possibility of taking a Jaron Ennis fight, but taking a bout with the IBF Welterweight Champion would be risky for a first move at 147. There is also the perception that Taylor does not have the power to compete with the big hitters at 147. And at 33 years old, Taylor must carefully decide his next steps.

Hearn Reacts

If he stays at 140, there are possible fights with the IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Liam Paro and George Kambosos Jr. The pair are both with Matchroom Boxing, which makes it easier to make those bouts. But since Catterall is also with Matchroom boxing, Jack will likely be ahead in the pecking order for those fights. Hearn has now named three possible opponents, hoping that Taylor will find his best form: Montana Love, Sergey Lipinets, and Robbie Davies Jr.

“It’s difficult, Josh is coming off the Catterall defeat, so, you’d quite like to have a good fight and get a win and get momentum. It’s tallying up whether you want that kind of fight, for the show, and tallying up what he needs for his career. You can’t just sling him in. We understand our obligation to bring fighters through at the right speed,” Hearn said