IBF World & WBC Silver titleholder Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) says the Ali Trophy will look nice in his house ahead of the WBSS Super-Lightweight Ali Trophy Final against WBA ‘Super’ World & WBC Diamond champ Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) on October 26 at The O2 in London.
Q & A with Josh Taylor:
Only a few weeks to the final, how are you feeling?
“I’m feeling great. All the hard training is almost done and I’m feeling in great shape. Next week will be the end of my sparring and I will be in top physical shape at that point.”
What kind of fight you reckon the fans can look forward to seeing?
“It’s going to be a very skillful fight. The two best lads in the division going for it. We are both undefeated, we are both hungry, both hungry for more succes so it’s going to be a real interesting fight.”
Your last two fights in the World Boxing Super Series have been in Glasgow. This one is in London, is that going to affect anything?
“No, not all. I’m going to have a great support from both sides of the border. I have always wanted to box at The O2 on a massive show and I can’t wait. A unification fight and the Ali Trophy, I can’t ask for anything better.”
How do you see yours and Regis’ performances so far in the World Boxing Super Series?
“I think Regis has had the easier route, picked the easier fights obviously. He has done the job fair play, but he has fought two guys you know; one was a lightweight going up who was gun-shy and scared to throw a punch. No disrespect to Terry, because he’s a good fighter, a good lad, but he’s not a super-lightweight. Relikh looked like a weight drained old guy and Regis did the job. Fair play, we are in the final now.”
The winner of the final will have two belts strapped around his waist and the massive Ali Trophy in his hands. What would that mean to you?
“It would mean the world to me. I’ve envisioned and visualised this for ages since this tournament came around. I’ve been visualising lifting that trophy, all the belts around my waist. Posing for the pictures at the end of the fight with the belts and the trophy.”
Have you picked a spot in your house for where you will put the trophy?
“Yeah, it will look nice in the corner there and the trophy cabinet there,” Taylor imagines. “It will will look nice in the house. I’m looking forward to taking it home.”
USA’s Regis Prograis and Scotland’s Josh Taylor entered the World Boxing Super Series and the quest for the Ali Trophy as the two highest-seeded boxers in a loaded 140lb bracket.
No. 1 seed Prograis earned his spot in the final by outdoing Terry Flanagan on points last October, and then went on to stop Kiryl Relikh in round 6 and take the WBA World title in the semi in late April. Meanwhile, second seed Taylor stopped Ryan Martin in round 7 last November and then proceeded to decision Ivan Baranchyk to claim the IBF World title in May.
The WBSS Super-Lightweight Ali Trophy Final at The O2 in London on October 26 is shown live via Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the U.S.
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