JOSH TAYLOR and Ricky Burns could meet in a sensational all-Scots world title fight in Glasgow after Taylor’s American opponent pulled out of their proposed bout.
The Prestonpans fighter was set to take on Regis Prograis in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final with their IBF and WBA super-lightweight belts on the line as well as the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
That fight had been pencilled in for Manchester on October 5. Now, though, Prograis has stepped away from that bout and lodged a lawsuit, claiming it was “the result of a long and repeated pattern of behaviour by Comosa [the WBSS organisers] that includes late payments, scheduling delays, bad faith representations, missed deadlines, and broken promises”.
That could open the door for Taylor and Burns to step into the ring for what would be a hugely-anticipated match-up. The former three-weight world champion was being lined up as a potential replacement to face Taylor in the WBSS semi-final when his opponent Ivan Baranchyk also threatened to withdraw during the build-up. The Belarussian and Taylor did eventually meet in Glasgow in May, with the Scot claiming his first world title by unanimous decision.
Burns has been waiting to get back into the ring since last October. His promoter Eddie Hearn has been unable to conclude deals for proposed fights in Glasgow this autumn against either Jorge Linares or Lee Selby, leaving the man known as The Rickster cooling his heels and desperate to get back into the ring.
A long-awaited match-up with the undefeated Taylor would prove a huge draw throughout Scotland and beyond and give the 36-year-old Burns the return to the big stage that he desires.
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