Josh Taylor was so proud of becoming a unified world champion he ignored his mum and girlfriend when they urged him to hide the keeker he got on the way to the title.
The IBF and WBA light welterweight king was also crowned the Sunday Mail Scottish Sports Personality of the Year at a star-studded evening in Glasgow on Thursday.
The Tartan Tornado was blown away by the honour but admitted the physical evidence of his success against American Regis Prograis at the O2 in October still takes some beating.
As well as adding Prograis’ WBA belt to the IBF one he had won in Glasgow in May, Taylor also lifted the Muhammad Ali trophy that night.
Prestonpans ace Taylor, 28, said: “I’ve never worn a black eye so proudly in my life as I did after that fight earlier this year. My mum and girlfriend were telling me to put sunglasses on to hide it – but I wanted to show it off to everyone.”
Mel Young, chair of sportscotland, announced Taylor’s latest award and it was presented to him by young Cody McManus, the first fan to ask the boxer for his autograph.
Taylor, who turned pro after winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is the youngster’s inspiration and the world champion hailed Lifetime Achievement award winner Ken Buchanan for inspiring him to greatness in the ring.
After receiving his award, the super southpaw admitted he is being driven on to even more glory by ring legend Buchanan’s achievements as he targets becoming undisputed light welterweight champ by taking undefeated American Jose Ramirez’s WBC and WBO belts next year.
Taylor said: “My first coach was actually Ken Buchanan’s son Raymond and he told me all about Ken.
“When I was training I would watch all of his fights on video so I would definitely say he has been my inspiration and it’s unbelievable that he’s here to witness this tonight.
“In the future I would like to fight Jose Ramirez and become the undisputed champion of the division.
“It would be great to hold all four belts because the last person to do that was Ken Buchanan 50 years ago.” Boxing legend Buchanan raised the roof when he collected his award and revealed how he once put the great Muhammad A li in his place.
The 74-year-old Hall of Famer was known as the king of Madison Square Garden in the 1970s after topping the bill at the Mecca of boxing an astonishing FIVE times as he became undisputed world lightweight champion.
That came after he overcame all the odds in Puerto Rico – including his corner being the only part of the ring in seering sunlight – to claim his first world belt from Ismael Laguna in 1970.
And it was during one of his fights at the famous New York venue that he chalked one up over the Louisville Lip.
He recalled: “I shared a dressing room with Ali and I picked up a bit of chalk that had been lying in an ashtray.
“When he came into the room, I drew a line on the floor. He walked up to me and was looking down. “I said ‘What is it?’ and he asked what I was doing. I told him that this was my dressing room and he was welcome to come in and make himself comfortable as long as he didn’t cross the line. “Because I could have taken him no bother!
“Having said that, the highlight of my career was going to Puerto Rico and beating the world champion.”
Buchanan still keeps a close eye on what goes on in the ring and tips Taylor to reach the very top. He added: “I realise that I’m still an inspiration to the younger guys but I’m very fond of them too.
“I like Josh a great deal. He’s a fantastic laddie with a great work ethic. “He’s going to go straight to the top of the sport.”
Northern Irish boxing hero Barry McGuigan presented Buchanan with the award and was full of praise for his old pal.
He said: “Ken was exceptional. From a tactical point of view he was a nightmare to deal with. He had that lovely Marquess of Queensberry-style but he could also fight from the inside.
“His hands were quick and he really blazed the trail by going to America and beating all their fighters.
“Nobody had ever done that before and that’s why he’s in both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Hall of Fame.”
Fellow Hall of Famer McGuigan was referring to when he got schooled by the great Scot after being asked to spar with him in preparation for a British title fight in the early 1980s.
The Clones Cyclone added: “The guy is a legend as well as a fabulous fighter.
“It’s fair to say he boxed the ears off me in 1981!”
There was a glint in Buchanan’s eye at that memory and he said with a grin: “I skelped him!
