Questions like this highlight the complete lack of boxing history knowledge on the general forum. But I'll humor you: Benny Lynch, Ken Buchanan, and Walter McGowan for a start.
Buchanan is #2 for me. In terms of skills, he's arguably better than Taylor, but in terms of achievements, he is not. Greatness is measured on paper, tangible achievements set in stone and resume. McGowan and Lynch fought at a time when there were fewer than 50 professional flyweight fighters. I'm not sure how you can argue that either of them is near Taylor in terms of greatness and their achievements. A pretty condescending response to presume I've never heard of these fighters before I'd make this claim about Taylor.
Give me 3 reasons why Walter McGowan is a greater fighter than Josh Taylor based on his resume and career achievements. Referencing fighters from 100 years ago and condescendingly trying to take the high road like you know the history of boxing from memory isn't a good look.
Huge difference between Taylor and Kovalev. While both drinkers, Kovalev was at least far more active than Taylor, so a guy like him is gonna perform much better since he’s getting consistent camps. In Taylor’s case, he was fighting once a year and spent a majority of that time drinking and blowing up in weight. No **** Kovalev’s gonna perform better.
Im not taking the high road and if you look back im actually biging up Taylor But people were calling him the greatest Scottish fighter of all time thats subjective
That's not the hugest difference, though you are correct about the activity. Kovalev was in a different stratosphere from Taylor in terms of talent. That's why he was able to get away with his drinking for longer. Josh Taylor was simply... not all that talented. Certainly not at the level his fanboys hyped him to be.
Kovalev was better than Taylor, but that’s not a knock on Josh at all. People on here are just giving Josh too much unnecessary criticism. Becoming undisputed champ the hard way comes with a lot of hype.
You're not going to get an argument from me to the contrary when it comes to Sergey Kovalev. He was and will always be levels above Josh Taylor. However for that very reason, I don't think this comparison is apropos. Sure, they both most likely let their love of booze upend their careers, but that's where the comparisons end. Kovalev always had far superior fundamentals, far superior jab and fluid punch selection, far better footwork, controlled range much better and most importantly had the fight ending power. He was elite in every sense of the word. Whereas Taylor was just an all around solid fighter who was good at most things but special at nothing, and that includes power, which against A level opponents was rarely fight ending. He was a good southpaw inside fighter and a grinder, who did just enough to eke out close wins against most of the decent competition he faced. Sure Kovalev would've obliterated an opponent like Essuman in a few rounds, but even at 140, that's simply not how Taylor rolled. Could he have stopped him? Sure, he managed to rock him a few times today, so it's not out of the question. But in all likelihood, Essuman, who's a Baranchyk level guy but with a better chin, would've put up a decent fight even then. The reality is, to paraphrase @Serge, Josh Taylor is a Errol Spence level guy, maybe slightly above. Spence was a southpaw inside fighter and grinder, who ruled over a weak division, filled with guys like Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter, who specialized in winning or losing by SD, but who was always massively overrated. Still, Taylor is levels above him in terms of P4P accomplishments and of course when it comes to toughness. When Taylor outgrew his division, he stayed around for 3 fights longer than he should have, barely lost two of them against Catterall, and took a hellacious beating at the hands of Lopez. But his ass never got ragdolled and dropped multiple times by a Lightweight, beaten from one side of the ring to the other, and have his career ended in one of the most vicious beatdowns in Welterweight history.
Agree with what you said except the Errol disrespect. Errol would never lose to a Essuman or whatever his name is.
flying out of a car at 100 mph may affect an athletes performance. but it will kill a couch potato, lol.