What’s Next For Josh Taylor?

By: Steven Galeano

Josh Taylor inked his title in boxing historical past eternally after turning into an undisputed junior welterweight champion on Saturday evening in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taylor added Jose Ramirez’s WBO/WBC titles to his IBF/WBA/RING title assortment after dropping Ramirez twice earlier than profitable an in depth unanimous choice. Now the query looms.

What’s subsequent for Taylor?

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) of Edinburgh, Scotland grew to become simply the sixth undisputed world champion of the four-belt period, and the 2nd ever within the junior welterweight division. Shifting up in weight to face the first ever to do it at junior welterweight could also be his most profitable choice transferring ahead. Terence Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) of Omaha, NE grew to become the first-ever undisputed junior welterweight champion in August 2017, and would then turn into the WBO welterweight champion in his subsequent battle. He has held that belt since June 2018 and continues to hunt a defining victory within the welterweight division.

Taylor could possibly be that potential opponent. The elite fights within the division proceed to happen within the PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) circle, as many of the division’s high fighters are aligned with them. WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) continues to land the largest fights, now scheduled to battle Corridor of Fame legend Manny Pacquiao in August. Different high contenders, reminiscent of Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, whom Spence Jr. defeated, are all affiliated with PBC and Al Haymon.

These are all guys Taylor would love to maneuver up and face as effectively. But, he would face the identical issues Crawford has. Being aligned with Prime Rank largely excludes them each from PBC for probably the most half. Crawford and Taylor, on this occasion, could be an ideal battle to make, particularly since Taylor has already expressed curiosity.

If Taylor stood put at 140lbs, Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), who’s undisputed champion at light-weight, may turn into an choice. A battle between Taylor and Lopez could be huge, and Lopez would doubtless welcome the chance to get a straight shot at turning into an undisputed champion in two weight lessons.

Taylor’s most certainly choice is to maneuver as much as welterweight, the place he’ll inevitably battle Terence Crawford. The largest query transferring ahead can be how briskly Taylor and Prime Rank need to make that battle. Just a few matchups to acclimate to the brand new weight could be superb, particularly contemplating how bodily taxing the Ramirez battle on Saturday evening was. Prime Rank doesn’t have many family names for Taylor to battle at 140lbs, so Crawford may immediately turn into the precedence.