Josh Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) is a wanted man.
The newly crowned winner of the Super Lightweight World Boxing Super Series, picking up the coveted Muhammad Ali trophy and not to mention adding the WBA world title to a collection that began with the IBF strap back in May, appears to be in the crosshairs of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. protege.
Two-time World Super Featherweight champion Gervonta Davis (22-0, 21 KOs), who bids to become a two-weight world champion on December 28th when he faces Yuriorkis Gamboa in Atlanta, has signalled his intentions that he wants to fight Taylor after he’s done with business at 135lbs.
As is the norm nowadays his plans were outlined publicly on social media yesterday (October 28th) when “Tank” took to Twitter to say, “After 135 I’ll move up to 140 and fight Josh Taylor.” Just over four hours later the Scot, straight to the point as ever, replied with “That’s the best joke I’ve heard in a good while! What a minge.” Take to Google if you want know to what “minge” means.
And so began a back and forth: “I will stop you. I promise you that,” Davis retorted.
“Never make promise(s) you can’t deliver,” the Scot carried on.
“7-8 rd to be exact,” predicted the man from Baltimore.
“Put the drink down and sleep it off wee man,” Taylor said.
“I’m calling Al (Haymon) tonight”, with Taylor seemingly ending the conversation with “Call him then. They don’t call me the hype job killer for nothing.”
At time of writing (6am UK time) that’s where the conversation ended.
Taylor’s profile has rocketed since beating Davis’ countryman Regis Prograis on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena in a sure-fire 2019 fight of the year contender where both men showed the art and brutality of inside fighting to its fullest form with neither man backing down an inch.
Taylor now wants to move on and become undisputed champion at 140lbs by taking on Top Rank’s WBC and WBO champion Jose Ramirez at some point in the future. And Taylor would love nothing more than that to happen at Easter Road, the venue of his beloved football team Hibernian, or the historic Edinburgh Castle which would provide quite a unique and spectacular setting for any fight.
For now, however, Taylor is in the spotlight and will no doubt have more fighters calling him out in due course.
Davis is no stranger to fighting in the U.K as seen back in 2017 when dismantling Liam Walsh inside three rounds to defend his IBF World Super Featherweight title.
The prospect of a Josh Taylor-Gervonta Davis fight is a thrilling one and a money-maker at the same time. For now, both men will go their own way but words have been exchanged, meaning, in modern day boxing, the foundations have been laid for something that may continue to build until it reaches its conclusion somewhere down the line.
Twitter @shaunrbrown