First, Jose Ramirez. Then, Terence Crawford.
That’s a bold plan, but Josh Taylor’s move to Top Rank has emboldened the Scottish fighter.
Taylor, who announced a multi-year deal with Top Rank on Thursday, told his hometown newspaper that Crawford has always been somebody he has wanted to fight.
“It’s been an ambition of mine to fight him for a long time,” Taylor told the Evening Edinburgh News
Taylor might be getting a little bit ahead of himself. Crawford, ranked first or second in the various pound-for-pound ratings, is a welterweight. Taylor is at junior welter and is expected to face Ramirez later in the year for all of the significant belts at 140 pounds. First, Ramirez has to beat Viktor Postol Feb. 2 in China on ESPN.
If, as expected, Ramirez beats Postol, then Taylor faces a challenge as daunting as the one he wants against Crawford. Taylor-Ramirez looks to be a pick-em fight. But Taylor is nothing if not confident. His fearlessness is a reason Top Rank signed him. His long-term ambitions also might be welcome news to Crawford, who is looking for a well-known name with proven talent who can silence the critics who dismiss the quality of his opposition
That name might be Taylor. Might be Ramirez.
“We both now operate under the same banner so there’s no reason for boxing politics to get involved,” said Taylor, referring to Crawford. “If I move up to 147 pounds, then that fight with Crawford should be easily made. The only negotiating that would need to happen would be if it is going to be here or in America.‘’
A more immediate task for Taylor is to find a new trainer. In leaving Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions, it’s expected that Taylor will also leave trainer Shane McGuigan, Barry’s son.