Plenty of folk go to Las Vegas and lose their shirt. Not many turn up to the press conference ahead of the biggest fights in history without one on.
It might have been a hint of mind games, or it might just have been Josh Taylor being Josh Taylor.
But even his rival for the undisputed light-welterweight crown looked surprised when he logged on to the pre-fight Zoom to see the Scotman sitting shirtless on the couch in his Vegas villa ahead of this weekend’s mouthwatering duel with Jose Ramirez.
Taylor is feeling the heat going into the weekend but not in the way you’d think.
“I was just out doing some sun bathing,” Taylor grinned. “I’m just here trying to get a good tan. I’m pale blue – I’m like a milk bottle. I need to get some colour before I go back to Scotland!
“I’m nice and relaxed about this week. I couldn’t be anymore prepared mentally and physically.
“I’m not wasting any energy, it’s another day at the office. I’m totally confident and looking forward to the fight. I’m enjoying the ride.”
Don’t be fooled by Taylor’s chilled-out attitude though. He’s lapping up his Vegas experience but he’s about to flip the switch and get into business mode.
The World Boxing Super Series kingpin is already one of the best on the planet right now and one of this country’s all-time greats for a reason. He’s funny, engaging, likes to fool around and have a laugh.
But there’s another side to him, a dark depth he reaches into when the first bell gets closer, and it was lurking beneath the surface again last night.
Taylor said: “It’s all about Saturday and picking the holes in his game I feel I can exploit. Ramirez is vulnerable full stop. He’ll be easy to find, I won’t need to go looking for him.
“It has the makings of a real barnstormer of a fight. This fight means the world to me. It’s history for the both of us.
“To become the first undisputed champion from Scotland in the four belt era and the first undisputed Scot since Ken Buchanan is a massive piece of history.
“This cements my name as an all-time great in Scottish and British boxing. This means everything for me. I’ve worked so hard to get here and I’m on the cusp of something great.”
The Americans have been bowled over by this boy from Prestonpans. Ramirez is more experienced, with 26 wins from 26 fights but the Yanks reckons Taylor will have too much for his opponent.
It just shows where the Scot is right now. He is not just going into one of the biggest bouts in British boxing history with a chance – he’s going in as favourite.
That comes with it’s own pressures but Taylor won’t melt under the pressure. He said: “I’m already in the pound-for-pound conversation. I’m ranked nine with Ring Magazine but I’m not fussed about that kind of thing. I do my talking in the ring.
“I’m used to the big stage. It doesn’t faze me at all. I thrive under the lights.
“I wish it was at full capacity like Texas with 70,000 fans the other week with no masks or social distancing. Why can’t we do it here?
“It’s a little bit frustrating there’s not a bigger crowd. I’m glad there will be some fans in there and want to put on a show. The fans give you those butterflies and they create an atmosphere. They make the event bigger and better.
“There will be singing or booing and it gives you a bit extra determination. My last fight (Apinun Khongsong) was very hard to stay in the zone coming in to the ring with no fans. It was a glorified sparing match and hard to deal with mentality.
“It will be awesome having some kind of normality back.”
The pandemic has raged but it’s been business as usual for Taylor. He has come through his second camp with new trainer Ben Davison and reckons it’s the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
Taylor said: “It’s been brilliant. I’ve never been so relaxed and happy in a camp. It’s more than just a boxer- trainer, it’s a friendship. But when we get in the gym he’s the boss. I’m happy with the way it’s gone.”
