Now that folks are seeing the light on USYK - how about Josh Taylor?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Slyk, Sep 29, 2021.



  1. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Were you blown away by Usyk's skills last Saturday? Did you finally open up boxrec to see who this strange Ukrainian had actually beat? If so, it's time to get ahead of the curve with a fighter who has a very similar career trajectory. Introducing: Josh Taylor

    Taylor, like Usyk, won the WBSS tournament and went undisputed in only a handful of fights. Like Usyk, he has faced a row of top fighters and champions, most of whom are undefeated. Also similar to Usyk, he plans to move up a division, a money division, where the general boxing public gives him little to no chance of success. Again like Usyk, he is a southpaw with a tremendous skillset who is most certainly the real deal.

    Don't let the Tartan Tornado take you by storm
     
  2. tinman

    tinman VIP Member Full Member

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  3. Conteh'sLeft

    Conteh'sLeft Active Member Full Member

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    I was following both before they became mainstream and am a fan of both , Taylor's got a bit of catching up to do though given that Usyk pulled off such a big victory with almost everyone doubting him .

    Ramirez was a good win on paper but as a fighter he's limited and has been bested by Postol before but received the benefit on cards.

    Taylor needs to keep that momentum going or else he might suffer from Crawford's fate.
     
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  4. dragon666

    dragon666 Active Member Full Member

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    I'd like to see a Prograis rematch in the future.

    Ugas is the fight to make after he beats Catterall and moves up.

    I don't think he's quite on Usyk's level but he's got a high boxing iq and top boxing skills.

    I think Usyk has the far better movement, head movement and footwork of the two. I think Taylor is a great boxer but his head movement is the thing which lets him down and i can see him being stopped because of it when he fights harder hitting opponents at 147.

    Thurman and Ugas are two fights i'd like next for Taylor. Thurman as a tune up but still a worthy opponent and then Ugas.
     
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  5. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    To be clear, I'm not saying Taylor is better than Usyk p4p or anything like that. I'm pointing out their remarkably similar career trajectories and the fact that Taylor, like Usyk, is massively under appreciated.
     
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  6. dragon666

    dragon666 Active Member Full Member

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    I think Usyk has the better wins but Taylor going through WSB is a similar trajectory to Usyk.

    Taylor i think is massively under appreciated because he didn't get enough media attention he deserved through his WSB fights because they weren't shown enough on mainstream channels.

    He's now on a platform where the british fans can get behind him in future big fights.
     
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  7. Curlew

    Curlew Member Full Member

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    I think he's pretty well appreciated on this forum but what really strikes me is how little attention he gets in the British media. I read the Guardian and they report on Joshua and Fury, on big Canelo fights and to an extent Conor McGregor in the UFC. Taylor's lucky if his bouts get an article, which is just bizarre as he's arguably our best boxer right now, perhaps since Calzaghe.
     
  8. gollumsluvslave

    gollumsluvslave Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Taylor is exceptional - but he has a fair ways to go to come close to Usyk. However there are couple of interesting parallels:-
    • Close fight in WBSS - Prograis for Taylor in semis, Breidis for Usyk in final; Rougarou pushed Taylor closer though
    • Both are very well rounded with no obvious weaknesses; Usyk being more exceptional in a number of categories than Taylor though
    • Both seem to have an innate self-belief, and LOVE to fight without fear.
    Taylor is a bit more spiteful / less gentlemanly than Usyk - to the point of being called a thug by a few. But I think he came across very well alongside Eubank Jr on the Sky transmission on Saturday - I was also fairly surprised at how little difference there seemed to be between TTT and Eubank Jr as well - I always though Josh had a skinny frame, but the move up to 147 should really do him some favours, he's a big lad for 140.

    I know Josh (and Arum) been making noises of going up to challenge Crawford @147 (assuming both come past their next fights - Catteall and Porter respectively). I think Josh should have at least 1 tune up @147 before going straight in against Crawford though, that would be foolhardy IMO; even Usyk didn't go straight up and take on Joshua!!

    Most folks would have Taylor a massive underdog against Bud - but not on size - on skills, which will be interesting to see - though I'm not entirely sure Showtime Shawn Porter doesn't spoil that plan there by somehow upsetting the odds and beating Crawford.

    147 is gonna be stacked in 2022!!!!
     
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  9. vast

    vast Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    For all his achievements Taylor seems to be massively underappreciated by the British Press. Very strange. Usyk has also been undervalued- not by Ukraine but by the boxing community. So I think they both have that in common although with Usyks dominating upset win over Joshua that is changing for him.
     
  10. BigBone

    BigBone Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Also underrated, still some bits to prove but also room to improve.
     
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  11. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone Full Member

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    Uysk is ATG standard.

    Taylor can be HOfer. He wouldn't best everyone at ww, but everyone at lww. He should stay in his division and build up a legacy.
     
  12. Moe Balbaghe

    Moe Balbaghe New Member Full Member

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    Calzaghe was never appreciated either, and never had the Sky Sports red carpet rolled out for him. Let's face it, within the UK there has always been a bias towards English fighters, or fighters that identify themselves as "British". Calzaghe, Taylor and Fury all come from ethnic backgrounds that the media conglomerates don't take that much interest in. I say this as a Welshman who couldn't even watch my national football team on BBC this summer without nearly the entire HT show being dedicated to England related content. The same does not happen the other way around

    Compare Taylor & Calzaghe's promotion by the media to David Haye or Derek Chisora. It's not a meritocracy this respect as it's clear who the better fighters are. It's more about whether your face fits. Fury didn't get the same treatment until very recently as well, mostly due to his traveller back ground

    You can also look at Fury & Calzaghe being omitted from Olympic selection because their profiles didn't fit. I hope one day this changes, but I fear it won't
     
  13. ShadesOfAli

    ShadesOfAli Active Member Full Member

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    I like Taylor, he’s a throwback to proper old school warrior boxers.

    He’s also an honest type of guy and isn’t afraid to say it how it is with his views.

    Some people try to put him down by bringing up his bullying antics pre fight, and his behaviour outside of boxing like when he abused some bouncer when out on the lash.

    Yeah he’s spiteful and a bit of a lad but you need them sort of characteristics to have a competitive edge.

    He’s just a real man and a top quality fighter at the end of the day no BS you know what you’re getting.
     
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  14. Reg

    Reg Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Taylor is good but Crawford eats him alive.
     
  15. Mickc

    Mickc Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Josh Taylor is Undisputed Champion in just 18 fights and the only current Undisputed Champion in the World iirc,he’s already achieved more and in a lot less time than what Calzaghe did . Taylor in the same boat as Usyk in that they both won the WBSS,both went Undisputed and both pretty much sailed under the radar. Usyk now in the spotlight after beating Joshua and now Taylor just needs his breakout fight .