Josh Taylor: "I do really want to become undisputed champion"
The No. 1 super-lightweight in the world Josh Taylor is one of the hottest properties in boxing after his World Boxing Super Series win.
The IBF and WBA Super world champion assesses a whirlwind start to 2020 having signed for MTK Global and promotional giants Top Rank.
‘The Tartan Tornado’ said in an exclusive interview with MTK, "That's the goal this year to become undisputed world champion, be the first guy to do it in Britain and Scotland since the great Ken Buchanan. That's the goal for this year, that's the target for this year.
"I think I've got a mandatory defence to do first. I think it's the guy from Thailand. I've got to get that out of the way first, take care of business there, but I'm not looking past that. When you do that that's when a lot of fighters go wrong, underestimating their mandatories."
Taylor (16-0, 12KOs) will face Apinum Khongsong (16-0, 13KOs) in a maiden defence of his WBA and IBF world super-lightweight titles in his next fight. The Bangkok boxer is unbeaten in 16 bouts, with two IBF regional titles, and has won his last six contests by knockout.
"I'll be fully concentrating on this one then hopefully go for Ramirez fight after."
Jose Carlos Ramirez (25-0, 17KOs) is the current WBC and WBO super-lightweight titleholder. A meeting in the square ring between Taylor and Ramirez would produce the seventh undisputed champion in the history of the division, the last to hold this status was Terence Crawford in 2017.
27-year-old Californian Ramirez turned pro with Top Rank after representing the United States at the 2012 London Olympics and has only just signed a new multi-year deal with them, meaning that matching the two titleholders will be an easy task after Taylor revealed he had joined Bob Arum's promotional group just days ago.
"I think I've got the best of both worlds signing with Top Rank. I'm not exclusively going to be just fighting in America from now on in, I'm still able to fight here in Britain and in Scotland.
"I've got the opportunity to get the real big names because most of the big names are signed with Top Rank and ESPN."
Ramirez was due to face Viktor Postol, who Taylor defeated on points in 2018, but the fight was cancelled amidst health and safetly fears as it was due to take place on February 1st in China, where the coronavirus outbreak is spreading rapidly.
The world championship fight is only postponed, so 'The Iceman' Postol will still get his turn at the unified champion next. Ideally, the two 140lbs titleholders' respective fights will take place on similar dates to allow the pair to meet afterwards.
"I want to be undisputed but mostly I just want to be the best I can be," Taylor asserted.
"I'm buzzing for the next chapter, I can't wait. I want to test myself against the best in the world. I do really want to become undisputed world champion but mostly I just want to be the best I can be and see how far I can take it in the next couple of years.
"I've acheived my dream of becoming world champion, so I'm happy, so everything from here on in is a bonus to me.
"Hopefully, I can move up in weight and chase a belt there and become a champion at 147lbs."
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