Josh Taylor believes he can hand Bud Crawford his first loss

By Boxing News - 06/23/2021 - Comments

By Chris Williams: Undisputed light welterweight champion Josh Taylor says he “knows he can beat” Terence Crawford, and he’d be up or taking the contest if it’s offered to him.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) is coming off a big victory over WBC/WBO 140-lb champion Jose Ramirez on May 22nd, and he’s weighing his options for his next fight.

Josh says he would like to defend against his WBO mandatory Jack Catterall next because he was good enough to step aside to battle Jose Ramirez for the undisputed championship.

But, if Top Rank promoter Bob Arum offers Taylor a fight against the unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), he’ll grab the fight with both hands.

Obviously, the money that Taylor, 30, can make fighting Crawford would surpass the payday he’d get in making a mandatory defense against Catterall.

In some ways, Taylor would be doing Catterall a favor if he vacated his WBO title if he chose not to step aside so that he could face Crawford.

If Taylor gives up the WBO belt, Catterall could then fight for the vacant belt against one of these guys:

2. Liam Paro
3. Arnold Barbosa Jr
4. Regis Prograis

Josh Taylor: I’ve fought better opposition than Crawford

“It’s a massive fight, it’s a huge fight,” said Josh Taylor to Pro Boxing Champions about a match between him and Terence Crawford.

Image: Josh Taylor believes he can hand Bud Crawford his first loss

“It’s an undisputed champion against an undisputed champion. I think he’s one of the best fighters on the planet at the minute pound-for-pound, but so am I, and I feel like I can win that fight.

“I’d have to be switched on with all my concentration. I feel like I can really win that fight. I have no doubt in my mind that I can win that fight.

“He’s a great fighter, a great champion, and I think he can do it all, but so can. I feel like I’ve fought better opposition than him. But I feel like I can win that fight, and I will,” said Taylor.

Josh isn’t kidding when he says he’s fought better opposition than Crawford because the Nebraska native has fought pretty much nobody since moving up to 147 in 2018.

Moreover, before Crawford moved up to welterweight, these were the best names on his resume:

  • Ricky Burns
  • Viktor Postol
  • John Molina
  • Yuriorkis Gamboa

Jack Catterall possible next option for Taylor

“It would be a good fight, but we don’t know if it’s happening next or not,” said Taylor about a fight against his WBO mandatory Jack Catterall.

Image: Josh Taylor believes he can hand Bud Crawford his first loss

“It’s looking likely; I’d like to do it because he agreed to step aside and let that fight happen between myself and Ramirez.

“I’d like to do that next, but if something better comes along, I’d take it. It’s a selfish sport, and you have to be selfish. I would like to honor my word and keep my word by doing that [fighting Catterall] next,” said Taylor.

If Catterall is the best that Taylor can do, so be it. But if the Crawford fight is offered to Josh, he should take it. He has an excellent chance of beating Crawford, in Chris Williams’ view.

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