Who is Josh Taylor? Getting to know the undisputed light-welterweight champion

Josh Taylor
(Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)

Josh Taylor faces Jack Catterall on February 26 in a Scottish homecoming, as he defends his WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring light-welterweight titles in front of a sold-out crowd inside the OVO Hydro.

Taylor returns to Scotland to fight for the first time since 2019, when he beat Ivan Baranchyk for the IBF light-welterweight title. He enters the ring as the best fighter within the United Kingdom.

The Scotsman’s last outing saw him become undisputed at light-welterweight, beating American Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision after scoring two knockdowns. Taylor earned the right to be called the best fighter in the division.

As part of the fight week build-up, Sporting News takes you through Josh Taylor’s career to date, his upcoming fight with Catterall, and where his career could go next if he secures a win.

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Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall fight date, time, price, odds & location for 2022 boxing fight?

When is the Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall fight?

  • Date: Saturday, February 26
  • Main card: 2 p.m. ET
  • Taylor vs. Catterall: 5:15 p.m. ET (approximately) 

Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall takes place on February 26. The main card is expected to start at 2 p.m. ET, with Taylor and Catterall entering the ring around 5:15 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights are. 

How to watch Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall

  • ESPN+, Sky Sports

Fans in the United States can watch Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall on ESPN+. Those over in the U.K. can watch the fight via Sky Sports. 

Fans in Canada can watch Khan vs. Brook via FuboTV, as well as Bell, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, and Eastlink. 

Josh Taylor record and bio 

    • Age: 31
    • Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
    • Height: 5'10
    • Reach: 69.5 inches
    • Record: 18-0, 13 KO's
    • Stance: Southpaw
    • Titles Held: WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF, The Ring light-welterweight titles
    • Next Opponent: Jack Catterall (26-0)

    Journey to Undisputed

    The journey to becoming undisputed champion has seen Taylor achieve the feat in only 18 fights. He joins an exclusive group, with only six men having achieved undisputed status in the four-belt era. Taylor joins Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in unifying a division. Claressa Shields, Jessica McCaskill, and Katie Taylor have also become undisputed champion.

    "The ‘Tartan Tornado" turned professional in 2015 following a successful amateur career which saw him become an Olympian at the 2012 Olympics. He also won gold in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014.

    Taylor started his pro career off with seven straight knockouts, beating Dave Ryan for the vacant Commonwealth light-welterweight title with a stoppage win. That was his first major title.

    Getty Images

    Taylor's first world title shot came in 2019, as he outpointed Ivan Baranchyk while dropping him once in the tenth round.

    What has to be discussed is Taylor’s run after beating Viktor Postol in 2018. That run saw him face and defeat six opponents with a combined record of 107-1. Taylor has become a major player in the pound-for-pound boxing list as a result.

    MORE: Ranking Kell Brook's top five options after dominant Amir Khan win

    Following the Barranchyk win, he faced unbeaten American Regis Prograis in a "Fight of the Year" contender for the WBA Super and IBF titles in the finals of the prestigious World Boxing Super Series tournament for the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

     Taylor earned a majority decision win after a back-and-forth fight, which had fans captivated at the 02 Arena. He defended those titles against the unbeaten Apinun Khongsong, knocking him out in one round behind closed doors during the pandemic.

    All those fights led to the undisputed bout against the unbeaten Jose Ramirez in May 2021. Taylor dazzled under the Las Vegas lights to produce a classy performance on away soil, scoring two brilliant knockdowns on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

    Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall

    Getty Images

    Taylor returns to Britain and his home country to face unbeaten English challenger Jack Catterall. The Englishman boasts a record of 26 wins 13 knockouts and has held the British light-welterweight title.

    Despite being highly ranked in two of the four governing bodies, Catterall hasn’t fought anyone of any real pedigree. He enters the fight as a huge underdog. According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Jack Catterall is the +720 underdog while Taylor is a massive -1350 favorite

    However, Carl Frampton claimed he only ever stayed behind to watch two fighters over the course of his career, one being Taylor and the other Catterall.

    Taylor will be hoping for a dream homecoming, which would include a classy performance in front of his home fans, and to defend those four belts that he worked so hard to win. Potential "super fights" await him. But first, Taylor must take care of business on Saturday night.

    Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall Tale of the Tape

    Josh Taylor Jack Catterall
    Age: 31 Age: 28
    Height: 5'10 Height: 5'7
    Stance: Southpaw Stance: Southpaw
    Record: 18-0 Record: 26-0
    Knockouts: 13 Knockouts: 13
    Rounds: 103 Rounds: 160
    Debut: 2015 Debut: 2012

     

    MORE: Terence Crawford looks to future, alternatives outside of Errol Spence Jr. fight

    Future Opponents for Taylor

    Fighters aren’t advised to look past their upcoming fights, but boxing fans are allowed to speculate on future bouts and potential show-stopping nights that the sport could provide.

    For Taylor, his status as an undisputed fighter means his stock is at an all-time high. A statement win on Saturday would help to elevate him somewhat further. As long as he holds four belts, he’s a big player in the sport, meaning a win is essential.  

    A win means he could possibly manifest a potential "super fight" with three-weight world champion, current welterweight kingpin, and pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford. Crawford fights at the weight above, and Taylor could potentially move up for a legacy fight that would no doubt be a dream for boxing fans everywhere. It’s also a fight that "Taylor claims he is ‘100% capable of winning."

    Before this can become a reality, Taylor must get past Catterall. 

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