Josh Taylor Is Being Careful Not To Overlook Jack Catterall
It should go without saying that undisputed super lightweight champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor (18-0, 13 KO’s) is on top of the world. He has defeated five consecutive undefeated fighters, three of which were world champions. Then earlier this year he became the undisputed champion. As one would expect these accomplishments have him feeling kind of bulletproof as he shared with Sky Sports Boxing.
“Yeah, I am buzzing! The self-confidence and the self-belief I just feel almost unbeatable at the minute. The current form that I am in and the fighters that I have beat recently…undefeated fighter after undefeated fighter after champion after champion, I just feel so confident in myself.”
“I feel almost unbeatable on my night! I don’t think that there is anyone that can beat me.”
ONE FIGHT AT A TIME
To become the 140-pound undisputed champion, the Tartan Tornado bested the hard-hitting Jose Carlos Ramirez on May 22. In the immediate aftermath of that unanimous decision win the fans and media clamored to know who was next. Taylor himself had expressed an interest in going up a division to face WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
Unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez also threw his name in the hat of would-be opponents. Despite how intriguing those fights might have been though, they were not fated to happn, at least not next. Instead, Taylor will face his WBO mandatory challenger Jack “El Gato” Catterall (26-0, 13 KO’s) on December 18. And to be quite honest, Taylor is tired of his next foe being slighted by the public and boxing media.
“I’m annoyed myself that people keep asking me what’s next, I mean Jack Catterall is next! It’s a tough fight! He’s unbeaten, he’s a worthy champion, he’s a solid fighter. He’s beaten everybody that has been put in front of him and he’s a very skillful, clever fighter.”
“I’ve got my hands full with him you know? It’s a tough fight! It’s a real tough fight. One that I believe that I am going to win 100%, but people keep asking me [Teofimo] Lopez. Well, if I don’t beat Jack Catterall it’s gone. All these dreams I’ve got my own dreams and ambitions that I want to do and Jack Catterall is standing in the way of me reaching them!”
FOCUS IS KEY
The Tartan Tornado is right to reel in his attention in order to remain focused on the task at hand. Provided that he does collect Catterall’s scalp, Taylor will still have all the same juicy fights to select from. Yet, if El Gato can play spoiler, then Taylor is primed and ready to have his whole world shattered. Given all the stakes on the line let’s see how this Yuletide season showdown plays out in the ring.
By: Bakari Simpson
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