Hard feelings are left in the wake of Josh Taylor’s jump to Top Rank in a split with promoter Barry McGuigan and his son, trainer Shane McGuigan.
Shane McGuigan says he could never continue to work Taylor’s corner because of the way the junior-welterweight champion left Cyclone Promotions, his father’s company.
“My dad matched him impeccably and built him up and I feel it is not right to do it that way,’’ Shane McGuigan told Boxing Social. “I would not continue to train somebody who has done that to someone so close to me.
“We had such a great thing going, lots of big wins and achievements. So, I felt it was not fair for that person to be cut out so myself and Josh will no longer be working together.”
Taylor, who signed with Top Rank on Jan. 9, has yet to decide on a new trainer. He is expected to make a mandatory title defense against Apinum Khongsong of Thailand within the next three months.
Shane McGuigan said he was stunned by Taylor’s deal with Top Rank, a move that put him closer to a fight for the undisputed 140-pound title against Jose Ramirez.
“It was a pretty big shock,’’ Shane said. “I did not see anything coming, and as soon as I heard it, my heart sank mainly because of the effort and time we had personally put in for Josh. We had managed and trained him impeccably, inside 16 fights he was unified world champion.
“If he had been a year into his career then fine, no problem. And if he had called me and talked to everyone and done it the right way, then that would have been fine. But not that way, after four-and-a-half years and all the achievements.’’