Tag: Cyclone Promotions

Josh Taylor says he terminated contract with Cyclone over ‘breaches’

Josh Taylor said he was able to sign with Top Rank because he terminated his contract with Cyclone Promotions over ‘breaches.’

In a day full of dueling statements, Josh Taylor got the last word.

Taylor delivered Thursday’s final punctuation point, countering Barry McGuigan, who responded to news of Taylor’s Top Rank deal with a statement that said the Scottish junior welterweight was still under contract to McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions.

Taylor responded on social media with his own statement, saying that he had ended his deal with Cyclone three weeks ago.

“I wanted to stay respectfully silent about my relationship with Cyclone but given they have released a statement, it is only proper that I respond,” Taylor said. “While I acknowledge and appreciate the role that Cyclone has played in my career to date, three weeks ago I terminated my promotional agreement with Cyclone as a result of various breaches of contract including, in particular, breaches relating to a conflict of interest on the part of the promoter.

“That allowed me to search for a new promoter, which I have found in Top Rank. I wanted to part ways amicably and without resorting to court proceedings (and) I thought and hoped the McGuigans would feel the same way given the litigation they are involved in with other fighters.

“I hope all of us can now move on in a positive way concentrating on things which advance us all.”

It wasn’t clear whether McGuigan, a former featherweight champion from Northern Ireland, plans to go to court against Taylor. McGuigan has been in court with former featherweight champion Carl Frampton, who split with Cyclone and is now recovering from hand surgery in the hopes of facing junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring.

The split with Cyclone likely means that Taylor will have to find a new trainer. His trainer since 2014 has been Shane McGuigan, Barry’s son.

Josh Taylor’s new promoter, Bob Arum, wants to make him ‘international star’

Titleholder Josh Taylor of Scotland has signed with Top Rank, but Cyclone Promotions says he’s already under contract.

A 140-pound title-unification fight just became more likely.

Junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor of Scotland has signed a contract with Top Rank, Bob Arum and Taylor said Thursday in a joint announcement.

The multi-year deal is expected to lead to a 140-pound unification fight with Jose Ramirez, also a Top Rank fighter.

“A new year, a new decade with lots of new beginnings, and I’m starting this new decade with a big bang,” said Taylor, who beat Regis Prograis for two of the junior welterweight titles in a Fight of the Year contender Oct. 26 in the U.K. “2019 was a huge year for me, but 2020 looks set to be even bigger and I’m delighted to have signed a deal with Top Rank and ESPN and an advisory contract with MTK Global.’’

Controversy with Taylor’s Top Rank deal looms, however. Promoter Barry McGuigan immediately responded to the announcement, saying in a statement that Taylor is already under contract.

“We are very disappointed to read the news today that Josh Taylor has signed a promotional agreement with another promotional company,” McGuigan said in statement released to the U.K.’s The Mirror.  “Josh Taylor is under an exclusive worldwide promotional contract with Cyclone Promotions.

“We have successfully brought Josh to the pinnacle of the sport from the day that he turned professional, including working alongside other stakeholders in boxing to deliver him the biggest fights.’’

Meanwhile, Arum called Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) a fight fan’s fighter, fearless and willing to take on anybody.

“Whether it’s Jose Ramirez in a fight for the undisputed junior welterweight title or any of the welterweights out there, he’s ready for the biggest challenges,’’ Arum said. “I want to thank Josh’s advisors at MTK Global, who have the same goal as us, which is to make him an international star.”