GLASGOW on a Saturday night is not short of young men who like a drink and fancy themselves in a fight, but Josh Taylor is a bit different to the rest.
It has just gone midnight, but deep inside the bowels of the cavernous SSE Hydro this remarkable 27 year-old seems as fresh as he did a few hours earlier when he entered the boxing ring next door and, with minimal fuss, guaranteed himself a shot at a world title.
His right hand feels a bit tender but beyond that there is barely a scrape on him, a sign of how little he had been troubled by the previously unbeaten American Ryan Martin during seven rounds of boxing that could only have been more comfortable for Taylor had he performed in his slippers. This was only his 14th professional fight but already the self-styled Tartan Tornado looks assured, confident and composed at this level. His time is now.
Outside of the ring he is just the same. Taylor is a man clearly happy with his lot; his personal life, his professional relationship with Shane and Barry McGuigan, his trainer and manager respectively at Cyclone Promotions, his fitness, his ambitions, his talent.
At one point during the melee of the post-fight media conference, he catches the eye of girlfriend Dannielle standing halfway back in the crowded room and the pair exchange a smile. No words are necessary. It painted a picture of utter contentment.
Taylor is as focused and driven as any other serious athlete when it comes to talking about his career – next up is a World Boxing Super Series semi-final bout against Ivan Baranchyk with the Belarussian’s IBF belt up for grabs – but on other topics of conversation he is warm, funny and impressively grounded.
Taylor’s first action after stopping an opponent in the ring is to ask if they want to join him for a pint later. It is probably not the first thing that springs to mind when the southpaw Scot has just pounded your aching frame for half an hour but Taylor believes it is just good manners. A few have taken him up on the offer.
“It’s always nice to be nice, it’s my way of showing respect,” he said. “It’s just the way I was brought up. When the fight is over, it’s over.
“I was even like that if I got in to a fight at school. Once it was done we were pals again. I always offer to go for a pint after fights. Viktor Postol was up for it and Warren Joubert actually came out with us. We ended up in a nightclub in Edinburgh together and had a great night!
“It was a laugh and we are still in contact now. He messaged me before Saturday and wished me all the best. It’s just something I do and I’ll still do it. Maybe if I win the world title in Las Vegas I’ll take the guy down the Strip for a pizza and a pint!”
Many athletes disappear inside their own personal bubble, wallowing in introspection, but Taylor is aware of everything going on around him. When he chose to change his ringwalk music 24 hours before the fight, he did so with the Scottish crowd in mind.
“I love the Prodigy song ‘Breathe’ but it gets me too worked up,” he revealed. “You want people to have a good time so I picked Insomnia by Faithless instead to walk out to. It’s old school. It’s before my time but I’m a wee raver. I was born a generation too late!”
Taylor and his team would love the semi-final to be back in Glasgow but, in its two seasons to date, the Super Series has never returned to the same venue twice.
Rather than disappointment, the 27 year-old sees it as an opportunity to expand his horizons.
“I would love to box here every time but it’s up to Kalle and Nisse [Sauerland, the promoters] to decide. I’m up for travelling and seeing new places, new culture, music and all that.
“I’m up for new experiences but if I had the choice I’d have it here in Scotland. I love the Hydro. Edinburgh Castle in the summer would be brilliant, bagpipes in the background – that would be amazing.”
Saturday night felt like the end of the first chapter for Taylor as a professional. Now established as a world-calibre boxer, he looks forward to what the next one will bring.
“Everything so far was about getting to this point but this is me just getting started. I’ve been saying for years I am going to be the world champion. I’ve always believed it and now I am almost there. I believe there is more to come from me as well. This is just the beginning.”
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