Former undisputed champion Josh Taylor confirms boxing retirement

Former undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor has confirmed his boxing retirement at the age of 34.

On 22nd May 2021, Josh Taylor defeated Jose Ramirez to become the undisputed light-welterweight champion.

Just over four years later, the ‘Tartan Tornado’ has hung up the gloves after confessing his struggles with an eye injury.

Taylor took to social media to announce his retirement.

As has been publicised before, I've had a recurring issue with my eye that unfortunately means I now have to call time on my career or risk losing my eyesight.

- Josh Taylor (Instagram)

"While the fighter in me always wants to box on, I know I have to listen to the medical professionals and save me from myself.

"It is certainly not the way I wanted to bow out but I have to listen to the doctors and those around me.

"I am just a kid from the Pans who scaled the very top of the sport but I could not have done it without those who have supported me through thick and thin."

Establishing himself as one of Scotland’s greatest ever boxers, Taylor made his senior boxing debut with a TKO victory over Archie Weah in 2015.

Retiring just over ten years later with a respectable 19-3 record, the tail end of his professional career has taken an unexpectedly underwhelming turn.

After becoming undisputed champion with victory over Ramirez, Taylor successfully defended his undisputed status against Jack Catterall, before losing the WBO and Ring light-welterweight titles in a unanimous decision defeat to Teofimo Lopez.

Vacating his IBF, WBA and WBC straps in pursuit of a rematch with Catterall, the Scotsman would fall on the wrong side of a decision the second time round, recording his second successive career defeat.

Having effectively completed boxing at light-welterweight, Taylor made the decision to step up to welterweight, facing Ekow Essuman and losing via unanimous decision for a third consecutive time.

A sensational career that for some will unfortunately be defined by his latter fights, Josh Taylor bows out to boxing as just the second undisputed light-welterweight champion of the four-belt era, accompanied by Terence Crawford.