JOSH Taylor reckons a bumper travelling Tartan Army will prove Dereck Chisora wrong in his claims that the Scot’s WBSS Ali Trophy final against Regis Prograis isn’t fit to be headlining the bill at the o2 on October 26. The volatile English heavyweight caused a scene at yesterday’s press conference when he took umbrage at his clash with Joseph Parker being relegated down the bill as a result, at one stage threatening to walk off the show as a result.
Taylor told Herald and Times Sport yesterday that he felt Chisora’s comments were “disrespectful” and insisted that a whistlestop visit to his Edinburgh home at the weekend only confirmed to him how many Scottish fight fans were planning to build a weekend away around the eagerly-anticipated showdown, which also features Ricky Burns’ eagerly-awaited clash with Lee Selby.
“I couldn’t really make out what he [Chisora] was saying at first then I heard him saying ‘no-one gives a f*** about lightweights’ and going on about wanting more money,” said Taylor. “Obviously, it was a dig at us and it was a wee bit disrespectful to us really but it is what it is.
“I felt like saying ‘don’t be jealous because there is a wee Scotsman coming down to steal the show’ … but I didn’t want him to start attacking me and start flinging tables about!
“I’ve had loads of messages from people already saying they have already got their tickets booked and are travelling down to make a weekend of it,” Taylor added. “It is going to be great.
“I’m not totally sure how many will come down but I am sure there will be a couple of thousands coming down especially with Burns being on the bill .
“It will be great to bring a big travelling support down to London to watch me but it is not just about the Scottish support – it is about my support UK-wide too,” said Taylor, who largely bases himself in London these days, particularly whilst in training camps. “I have support from all over Britain and Ireland, I love to tap into that national fanbase. Headlining on a UK show at the o2 on a pay per view show, it really is amazing.”
Having fought at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, the chance to headline at the 20,000 capacity o2 on a pay-per-view show will be another step up for Taylor.
“This is the first time I will have fought at the o2, but I have been to a couple of big shows there, I went to watch Anthony Joshua in a couple of his big fights earlier in his career. I’ve fought in Vegas and at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn which are great too, but the o2 is a great venue and I can’t ask for any better than to make my debut there in a big unification bill.”
Pitting two undefeated, world title holders together in their prime, this is a fight which doesn’t need much in the way of additional hype. While he treats his opponent with respect, he is convinced he will be able to call himself the IBF and WBA super lightweight champion come October 26. The Ring magazine belt is also on the line.
“You don’t become world champion for nothing,” said Taylor. “So I believe we are the two best in the division, this fight is massive, it is huge for myself and I believe I am going to come out of it victorious.
“I think I can beat him, in every department. He may be a bit slippery and hard to hit early on but I am sure that I will figure him out. I’ll come up with a plan. I just can’t see him beating me.
“You’ll see my all my skills on display, you will see a bit of boxing, a bit of fighting. I switched off a couple of times in my last couple of fights, and I know I can’t do that against him. I want to win these titles, unify the division, then move on to bigger and better things. I believe I am the better fighter.”
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