Josh Taylor would love to win his first world title by way of knock out, and will seize the opportunity if it presents itself against Ivan Baranchyk.
The Tartan Tornado can become Edinburgh’s first world championship boxer since Ken Buchanan if he defeats the Belarusian and takes his IBF super lightweight world crown at the Hydro in Glasgow tonight.
Any sort of win would do for Taylor , as long as he gets his hands on that belt, but he won’t show away from getting Baranchyk out of there early if it’s sensible to do so.
“It would be brilliant to get the knock-out,” he admitted. “And, if the opportunity presents itself, I will jump on him – I’ll empty the tank to get him out of there, make sure when I get him out of there.
Josh Taylor is the best Scottish boxer since Ken Buchanan - Barry McGuigan
A win would set up a fight with American Regis Prograis in the final of the WBSS Ali Trophy, as well as the chance to take Prograis’ WBA title away from him.
Taylor watched his potential future opponent’s quarter-final victory over Kiryl Relikh, but wasn’t massively impressed with what he saw.
“I saw bits and bobs of the Prograis fight,” he said. “He had good head movement, looked pretty slick,
“But the guy he was fighting had to lose 46 pounds to make the weight. He looked old, slow and fatigued. Fair play, he got the job done.”
As for his now customary post-fight offer of going for a pint with his opponents, will that continue? “I will offer Ivan out for a drink on Saturday after I win, of course!” said Taylor.
“I can buy him a Russian vodka and he can get me a whisky. Hopefully he takes me up on it!”
Tickets for the fight are still available here .
