JOSH Taylor believes that the mindset which swept him to Commonwealth Games glory will stand him in good stead when he returns to the scene of his Glasgow 2014 gold medal-winning triumph at the SSE Hydro this evening.
A change of opponent following Mexican Humberto Soto’s withdrawal last weekend due to injury forced Taylor to rethink his tactics to deal with replacement Winston Campos of Nicaragua.
Having sparred 120 rounds with orthodox opponents, the 27-year-old undefeated Prestonpans boxer suddenly found himself pitted against a fellow southpaw.
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But Taylor is adamant that he will cope with whatever Campos throws at him when he defends his WBC Silver super-lightweight title in his 12th professional bout.
He said yesterday: “I have just reverted back to my amateur days when you don’t know who you are fighting until the day before.
“That’s the mentality I need. It was late, but back then you had 24 hours to put together a game plan and I’ve had a whole week this time so I don’t have any worries.
“My mindset is exactly the same and there’s no chance I won’t be up for it with 5,000 people at the Hydro. All I care about is winning and making it another good night.
“I had nearly a full camp preparing for a different fighter, but I feel confident that I’ll be able to adapt to Campos.
“He’s taller than Soto and he’s a dangerous southpaw, but I’m feeling great.
“It might take me a couple of rounds to adjust to his style, but I think the stoppage will come.
“The fact that we’re both southpaws probably suits me as well as it’s an easier style to match as there will be clear lines with us both leading from the left.”
Taylor scaled nine stone, 13lbs and six ounces at yesterday’s weigh-in, where Campos registered nine stone 13lbs.
Barry McGuigan has warned Taylor he cannot afford any slip-ups.
McGuigan said: “He’s right on the cusp of fighting for a world title but he mustn’t have any hiccups.
“We have to manipulate him into the world title realm and I want to put him in there as soon as I can, because he has broken all the records. He won the Commonwealth title in his seventh fight, he has had 11 fights, 11 wins and 10 knockouts.
“He has to be in the best shape of his life because the light-welterweight division is crammed full of talent.
“He is going to grow and grow and he has got to keep winning.”
Tonight’s undercard also features Edinburgh’s undefeated Jason Easton fighting Glenn Foot of Sunderland for the vacant Commonwealth super-lightweight title, while Charlie Flynn and Ryan Collins meet again in a grudge match for the Celtic lightweight belt.
The undercard features Edinburgh super-lightweight Jason Easton in the main supporting bout against Sunderland’s Glenn Foot for the Commonwealth title vacated by Taylor, while Glasgow’s Joe Ham is up against Norbert Eszenyi.
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