Josh Taylor (boxer)


Josh Taylor is a Scottish former professional boxer who competed from 2015 to 2025. He is a former undisputed light-welterweight champion, having held the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles between 2019 and 2022, the World Boxing Council title between 2021 and 2022, the World Boxing Organisation title between 2021 and 2023 and the Ring magazine title between 2019 and 2023. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth light-welterweight title from 2016 to 2017. As an amateur, he won a lightweight silver medal at the [boxing at the 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Council|Commonwealth Games|2010 Commonwealth Games] and light-welterweight gold at the [Boxing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 edition].
From May 2021 to May 2022, Taylor reigned as the undisputed light-welterweight champion, unifying all four major titles in the division and being only the sixth male boxer to do so. With his win over José Ramírez in 2021, Taylor became the second Scotsman to be an undisputed champion and the first Briton to do so in the four-belt era.
Taylor was nicknamed "The Tartan Tornado" for his aggressive boxing style.
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Early life

Born in Prestonpans, Scotland, Taylor has a sister, Finch. As a child, he was passionate about motorcycle racing, and "dreamed about being a world champion superbike racer or a world champion MotoGP racer"; he named motorcycle racers Valentino Rossi and Steve Hislop as his childhood heroes.

Amateur career

Taylor was a junior taekwondo champion, and turned to boxing at 15. He spent a short time at Meadowbank ABC and then moved onto Lochend ABC under coach Terry McCormack of Edinburgh. Taylor won a silver medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where he was beaten by Thomas Stalker in the lightweight final by 11–3.
Following the European Qualifying Event in Trabzon, Turkey, the ACB Lochend boxer qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, losing to number two seed Domenico Valentino in the round of 16. Taylor became the first lightweight Scottish boxer to qualify for the Olympics since Dick McTaggart, who won a gold medal in Melbourne in 1956 and a bronze in Rome at the following games.
He reached a Commonwealth Games final again in 2014, this time at light-welterweight. Taylor won the gold medal, defeating Junias Jonas of Namibia in the final. Taylor also represented the British Lionhearts at the World Series of Boxing.

Professional career

Early career

Taylor started his professional career in June 2015, signing with Barry McGuigan's Cyclone Promotions, and was trained by Shane McGuigan. Taylor made his debut in July 2015, defeating Archie Weah with a second round technical knockout.
In his seventh fight, Taylor picked up the Commonwealth light-welterweight title by beating Dave Ryan with a fifth-round stoppage. Ryan went down twice over the course of the bout. Ryan had previously held the title between 2014 and 2015. Taylor won his first seven fights by knockout. His KO streak came to an end against Alfonso Olvera, who went eight rounds with Taylor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 28 January 2017. Taylor won the fight by unanimous decision with scores of 79–72, and 78–73 twice. On 24 March Taylor defended his Commonwealth title for the first time, beating Warren Joubert with a sixth-round TKO, after hurting him several times with left hooks. Joubert went down in round six and his corner threw in the towel.

Rise up the ranks

Taylor vs Davies

On 8 July Taylor faced WBC Silver champion and fellow unbeaten prospect Ohara Davies. The two had previously taunted each other on Twitter. Taylor would also be defending the Commonwealth title. Taylor dominated the fight and stopped Davies, dropping him once in round three and twice in round seven before the referee halted the contest.

Taylor vs Vázquez

Taylor defended his WBC Silver title against former lightweight world champion Miguel Vázquez on 11 November at the Royal Highland Centre. Although Vázquez' style seemed to pose problems for Taylor in the early rounds, Taylor wore him down as the fight went on. Vázquez went down in round nine from body shots, and he failed to beat the count. This was Vázquez' first stoppage loss.
On 18 January 2018 it was confirmed that Taylor would defend his WBC Silver light-welterweight title against veteran Humberto Soto on 3 March 2018, at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow. On 24 February 2018 it was revealed that Soto had sustained an injury whilst training meaning he had to pull out the fight. On the same day, Winston Campos was announced as his replacement.

Taylor vs Postol

In June 2018, Taylor fought former WBC light-welterweight champion, Viktor Postol, gaining a UD win in a twelve-round fight, meaning that he was placed in the mandatory position to fight WBC light-welterweight champion, José Ramírez. The fight took place at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow.

World Boxing Super Series

On 30 June 2018, it was announced that Taylor would join fellow light welterweights Ryan Martin, Terry Flanagan, Regis Prograis, Eduard Troyanovsky, Anthony Yigit, Ivan Baranchyk and WBA champion, Kiryl Relikh in the eight man tournament.

Taylor vs Martin

At a gala held in Moscow, Taylor was selected to fight Ryan Martin in the quarter-finals. Taylor dominated the fight with Martin throwing few punches. In the seventh round, Taylor landed a flurry of punches that staggered Martin which resulted in referee Victor Loughlin stopping the fight.

IBF light-welterweight champion

Taylor vs Baranchyk

Taylor won his first world title, the IBF light-welterweight title, by UD against Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow on 18 May 2019. Taylor scored two knockdowns in the fight.

Unified light-welterweight champion

Taylor vs Prograis

Taylor won a unification bout against WBA (Super) light-welterweight champion Regis Prograis by majority decision in the final of the World Boxing Super Series at The O2 Arena in London on 26 October 2019. The fight was shown live on Sky Sports Box Office. Two judges scored the fight 117–112 and 115–113 in favour of Taylor while the third scored it a draw at 114–114. Taylor lifted the Muhammad Ali Trophy as the winner of the 2018-19 World Boxing Super Series – Light-welterweight division along with the vacant Ring magazine title.

Taylor vs Khongsong

In January 2020, Taylor signed a promotional deal with Top Rank and an advisory deal with MTK Global. In his next fight, the Scotsman defended his titles against undefeated challenger Apinun Khongsong on 26 September 2020 at York Hall, London. Taylor did not waste any time, dropping and stopping Khongsong in the first round with a body shot. The time of stoppage was 2:41.

Undisputed light-welterweight champion

Taylor vs Ramírez

Taylor faced WBC and WBO champion José Ramírez on 22 May 2021, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada, for the undisputed light-welterweight title. Taylor knocked his opponent down twice in the sixth and seventh rounds, both times with his left hand, en route to a unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the bout 114–112 in his favour. The result meant that Taylor became the second Scotsman to be an undisputed champion ; the first British fighter to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era; and only the fifth man to do so after Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk.

Taylor vs. Catterall

Taylor's first defence of his undisputed light-welterweight title had been scheduled for 18 December 2021, against WBO mandatory challenger Jack Catterall at SSE Hydro in Glasgow. It was announced by Taylor on 21 October that he had suffered an injury, and thus the fight was postponed to 26 February 2022.
On the night, despite being knocked down by Catterall in the eighth round and being seemingly outboxed by the challenger, Taylor was handed a very controversial split decision victory, with scores of 114–111 and 113–112 in his favour, and 113–112 in favour of Catterall. According to CompuBox, Catterall landed more punches than Taylor in 11 out of 12 rounds. The challenger landed 120 of 525 total punches, and 81 of 267 of his power punches, with Taylor throwing and landing far fewer in comparison: 73 of 306 overall, and 57 of 179 on power shots. Former world cruiserweight champion and pundit Johnny Nelson stated, "It's decisions like this which turn casual fans off. Josh Taylor did not win that fight." The decision was labelled as "the biggest robbery in British boxing history". Irish bookmaker Paddy Power stated that they would be refunding all stakes placed by their customers on Catterall to win the bout, as it "was an absolute robbery". Despite the widespread public opinion, Taylor was defiant in his post-fight interview, saying, "I don't think there is any need for a rematch... I know I won the fight."

Taylor vs. Lopez

On 8 April 2023 it was officially announced that Taylor would defend his WBO and The Ring light welterweight belts against former unified lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez on 10 June at the Hulu Theater in New York City. Taylor lost by unanimous decision.

Post-title career

Taylor vs. Catterall II

On 27 April 2024 in Leeds, England, Taylor was scheduled to face Jack Catterall in a rematch. He lost the fight by unanimous decision with the scores 117–111, 117–111 and 116–113.

Taylor vs. Essuman

Moving up to welterweight, Taylor lost to Ekow Essuman by unanimous decision at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on 24 May 2025.

Retirement

Taylor announced his retirement from professional boxing on 21 July 2025, saying he was ending his career on medical advice due to a recurring eye injury.

Personal life

Taylor is a fan of Hibernian F.C.
In December 2019, Taylor was arrested and charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner due to an incident whilst partying in Edinburgh. After being asked to leave a nightclub, he said a bouncer's "nose ring is gay", and referred to the bouncer as a "gay-looking cunt" and a "big orange-looking cunt". Taylor later pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was fined £350. He said on Twitter afterwards, "I whole heartedly apologise for my stupid actions. It has been a rollercoaster of a year for me, becoming unified world champion and on this occasion I've taken it too far."
On 31 December 2025 Taylor was involved in another drunken bar incident, in his hometown of Haddington where a pub brawl led to him being banned for life from the Victoria Inn.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
22Loss19–3Ekow EssumanUD1224 May 2025OVO Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandFor vacant WBO Global welterweight title
21Loss19–2Jack CatterallUD1225 May 2024First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
20Loss19–1Teofimo LopezUD1210 Jun 2023Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBO and The Ring light-welterweight titles
19Win19–0Jack Catterall1226 Feb 2022OVO Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandRetained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring light-welterweight titles
18Win18–0José RamírezUD1222 May 2021Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, USRetained WBA, IBF, and The Ring light-welterweight titles;
Won WBC and WBO light-welterweight titles
17Win17–0Apinun KhongsongKO1, 2:4126 Sep 2020York Hall, London, EnglandRetained WBA, IBF, and The Ring light-welterweight titles
16Win16–0Regis Prograis1226 Oct 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained IBF light-welterweight title;
Won WBA (Super) and vacant The Ring light-welterweight titles;
World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight final
15Win15–0Ivan BaranchykUD1218 May 2019SSE Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandWon IBF light-welterweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight semi-final
14Win14–0Ryan MartinTKO7, 2:213 Nov 2018SSE Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandRetained WBC Silver light-welterweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: Light-welterweight quarter-final
13Win13–0Viktor PostolUD1223 Jun 2018SSE Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandRetained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
12Win12–0Winston CamposTKO3, 0:443 Mar 2018SSE Hydro, Glasgow, ScotlandRetained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
11Win11–0Miguel VázquezKO9, 2:3011 Nov 2017Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, ScotlandRetained WBC Silver light-welterweight title
10Win10–0Ohara DaviesTKO7, 2:258 Jul 2017Braehead Arena, Glasgow, ScotlandRetained Commonwealth light-welterweight title;
Won WBC Silver light-welterweight title
9Win9–0Warren JoubertTKO6, 1:2724 Mar 2017Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, ScotlandRetained Commonwealth light-welterweight title
8Win8–0Alfonso Olvera828 Jan 2017MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
7Win7–0Dave RyanTKO5, 2:4521 Oct 2016Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, ScotlandWon vacant Commonwealth light-welterweight title
6Win6–0Evincii Dixon2, 3:0030 Jul 2016Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, US
5Win5–0Miguel Alberto González MenaTKO1, 1:3314 May 2016Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales
4Win4–0Lyes Chaibi2, 1:4027 Feb 2016Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
3Win3–0Daniel Cosmin MinescuTKO1, 0:4520 Nov 2015Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2Win2–0Adam MateTKO1, 1:2516 Oct 2015Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
1Win1–0Archie Weah2, 1:5318 Jul 2015Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, US

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

''The Ring'' magazine titles

The Ring light welterweight champion

Silver world titles

Regional/International titles

Undisputed titles

Honorary titles