Josh Taylor reveals new boxing motivation having 'completed the sport' at 140lbs

Josh Taylor has revealed his motivation for stepping up a weight class as the former undisputed super-lightweight king begins his assault for welterweight world title glory in Glasgow this weekend.

The 34-year-old takes on the experienced 147lbs contender Ekow Essuman in his first bout in the division where victory is a necessity if he is to keep his hopes of becoming a two-weight world champion alive.

The 'Tartan Tornado' has already secured his boxing legacy on the back of becoming a four-belt ruler at 140lbs, beating the likes of Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez en-route to scaling the summit of the super-lightweight mountain.

However, the Scotsman has been underwhelming in recent years, scoring a controversial victory over Jack Catterall in 2022 before succumbing to back-to-back defeats against American star Teofimo Lopez as well as Catterall in their blockbuster rematch 12 months ago.

The magnitude and fashion of those defeats thrust Taylor's boxing future under the spotlight, with some even speculating that it could be time for the East Lothian to officially hang up his professional boxing gloves.

But those rumours have been firmly put to bed with the Scottish star intent on flexing his muscle in a new division, starting against former British title-holder Essuman on Saturday night.

“I will get this journey rebooted and kick-started again," the Queensberry fighter said at the final press conference on Thursday night.

"Take care of business on Saturday, do it in a good fashion and look forward to moving on to big fights in the future.

At 140lbs what else was there left for me to do? I’d completed boxing in a sense and won every single belt in boxing you can win.

- Josh Taylor

"What else was there for me in terms of challenges, setting new targets? There was nothing to do.

"So, what there was, was moving up with an assault on becoming a two-time, two-weight world champion - I am planning on taking this guy out on Saturday and that is what I’m going to do."

Taylor, who is enjoying the luxury of having not to worry about cutting weight for the fight, steps back inside the OVO Hydro in Glasgow with fond memories tomorrow night, having enjoyed some of his most pivotal moments of his career inside the Scottish arena.

"It is great to be back here and this has been my home since the Commonwealth Games, I'm ready to put on a big show," he added.

"I’ve had most of my big fights here, Victor Postol, my first world title against Ivan Baranchyk, so I’ve had most of my big nights here, so I am looking forward to getting back.

"Obviously training has been gruesome and hard, hard work over the past few months, but it feels like I am at holiday camp this week.

"No dieting, cutting weight or drying out tonight, getting the last bit of water you can out of you. There is none of that this week, I am full of beans, full of energy with a spring in my step. I just can’t wait to get going."

Mark Mothershaw

• Queensberry
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