Did the long periods of inactivity ruin Josh Taylor?

Top Rank kept Josh Taylor inactive for long periods of time.

He fought just once in 2020, with a KO in round 1 over Apinun Khongsong, a meaningless opponent for a top boxer.

He fought just once in 2021, with a decision win over Jose Carlos Ramirez.

He fought once in 2022, with his decision over Jack Catterall, which some considered a robbery.

He went 16 months without a fight until last Saturday, when he had the loss to Teofimo Lopez.

I've heard respected trainers say "inactivity ruins a fighter". Taylor did not look sharp on Saturday - did his inactivity play a role in his poor showing?

Top Rank in recent years has often left good fighters inactive for long periods, having them fight only once per year.

 

It won't of helped but we can't know for sure if it was him declining or simply him facing two fighters in Catterall and Lopez that exposed his flaws.

If he continues to box on then he'll need to be carefully matched up. No more out boxers that counter punch. Let's see him in with someone who plays to his strengths and maybe he'll look like his old self.

 

If he's going to continue he can't be out for another 16 months. He needs to be back before year end and have a plan in place. He'll just lose focus otherwise and pick up another injury.

 

No.

Aren't fighters supposedly to be constantly training/in sparring until a fight date is announced anyway?

Taylor just wasn't good enough, ran out of steam against someone who's younger, fresher, quicker. That's it.

Look at Catterall for example, out just as along...only fought the other week and looked as good as ever. He won because he was better, sharper, fresher and younger.

 

No, he’s shot.

And the writing was on the wall in the Catterall fight

 

One of the reasons, why he was so dull

 

Ion know but he looked horrible in his last 2 fights. I hate Teo and would've been willing to give any possible round to Josh. I started watching maybe round 5 and I don't think he even won a round TBH.

Maybe he peaked and is finished, because he really looked bad.

 

maybe. the early 30s are rarely kind to fighters in the lighter weight classes, & JT has been boxing at pro & top amateur level for the thick end of 15 years, that's a long time.

 

Prograis/Baranchyk/Ramirez > Lopez

 

long periods of not being as good as people pretended he was, is what did him in.

 

Lmao.. this.

 

I think it's a combination of his ego/confidence being shattered by the JC fight and Teofimo showing up and showing out like he hadn't since the Lomachenko fight.

Inactivity shouldn't have hurt him too much given that he's pretty young.

 

Staying at 140 is the reason for the inactivity and for the poor performances. Boxrec says he's 5'10". 140 is not a healthy weight for an athlete that size after the mid 20s at the very latest. He should have been at 147 for a while now and be thinking about 154 soon.

But it's hard to admit you're getting older and the advantage you used to get from being much larger than your opponent has turned into a liability that's draining you.