Who wins? Josh Taylor vs. five potential opponents

Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create our own “Who Wins?” feature, in which we pit a single fighter against each of five potential opponents and indicate who we believe would win the fights.

We started the series with our No. 1 boxer pound-for-pound, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and moved down the Boxing Junkie list to No. 2 Terence Crawford, No. 3 Canelo Alvarez, No. 4 Naoya Inoue, No. 5 Oleksandr Usyk and No. 6 Gennady Golovkin, No. 7 Errol Spence Jr., No. 8 Tyson Fury, No. 9 Juan Francisco Estrada, No. 10 Mikey Garcia. and No. 11 Artur Beterbiev.

Next up is No. 12 Josh Taylor

In this installment of Who Wins?, our staffers’ give their takes on how Taylor would do against Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis (in a rematch), Maurice Hooker, Terence Crawford and Teofimo Lopez. We then tally Taylor’s record in those fights and present our standings.

Taylor had a huge 2019, defeating Ivan Baranchyk by a wide decision to win a 140-pound title and then unifying by narrowly outpointing Regis Prograis to become a major star.

We want to acknowledge that the choice of possible opponents is subjective. We’re looking for the best possible but also realistic foes for our featured boxers. One caveat: We won’t consider promotional and managerial rivalries that often stand in the way of the best matchups. And we’re operating under the assumption that none of our featured boxers will fight with ring rust as result of their forced coronavirus-related layoff.

The plan is to work our way down our pound-for-pound list each day. That means our featured fighter tomorrow will be No. 13 Manny Pacquiao.

So here goes: Taylor vs. his five potential opponents.

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TAYLOR (16-0, 12 KOs) VS. RAMIREZ (25-0, 17 KOs)

Jose Ramirez (punching Maurice Hooker here) is the most compelling potential opponent for Josh Taylor. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Rosenthal: Great matchup. Taylor and Ramirez are similar. They’re both were accomplished amateurs, they can box, they have some power and they’re big, strong 140 pounders who know how to use their muscle. Ramirez is probably more aggressive but Taylor might be a slightly better technician. The Englishman wins a close decision for that reason.

Frauenheim: Ramirez’s pound-for-pound credentials were evident last July in a stoppage of Maurice Hooker. He displayed newfound head movement and a hook to the body, all on the road in Texas. He’s getting better. Taylor will try to over-power him, bully him. But it won’t work against the poised Ramirez. Ramirez, unanimous decision.

Nam: Taylor edges this one. Ramirez’s high-octane offense will be difficult to quell. But Taylor’s superior inside work will help take some of the sting off of Ramirez’s attack. He’ll tame Ramirez. Taylor wins on points.

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TAYLOR VS. PROGRAIS (24-1, 20 KOs)

Regis Prograis (right) pushed Taylor to the limit but came up short on the cards. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Rosenthal: Taylor won a highly competitive first fight with Prograis – a majority decision – by fighting behind his excellent jab, keeping the pressure on his rival, beating him to the punch. Prograis will have to work a little harder in the rematch to have his hand raised. Will he? Too difficult to say. This one ends in a draw.

Frauenheim: Get ready for a trilogy. Taylor’s move to Top Rank means he has a new trainer in Ben Davison. They’ll need time to develop chemistry. During the coronavirus pandemic, there are no fights, no chance to work together. Prograis II figures to happen not long after boxing returns. That’s an opportunity for Prograis. He makes adjustments, wins split decision.

Nam: Flip a coin. Taylor was busier in the first fight, which partially helped shade the scores in his favor. He also outworked Prograis on the inside and landed some crushing right hooks. Expect the same in the rematch, with Prograis making a rally that comes too late. Taylor wins by a hair on the scorecards.

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TAYLOR VS. HOOKER (27-1-3, 18 KOs)

Maurice Hooker (right) fought with spirit against Ramirez but couldn’t cope with Ramirez’s all-around game. AP Photo / Brandon Wade

Rosenthal: Hooker met his match in Ramirez, who overcame Hooker’s quickness and movement with his combination of ability and punishing aggression. Hooker could be in for a similar fate against Taylor, who will both outbox and outslug the American en route to a clear decision victory.

Frauenheim: Hooker has advantages. He’s 5-foot-11, two inches taller than Taylor. He uses his height effectively. He has an 80-inch reach, 10½ inches more than Taylor. But that won’t be enough to keep Taylor off him. Taylor, late-round stoppage.

Nam: This is Taylor’s easiest fight here. Taylor will work his way inside Hooker’s long, but lazy jab and proceed to batter the Dallas native’s rib cage. It’s a one-sided fight. Taylor gets his hand raised by the eighth round.

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TAYLOR VS. CRAWFORD (36-0, 27 KOs)

Terence Crawford might be too strong — and too good — for Taylor. Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Rosenthal: Of course, this is a big challenge for Taylor. Crawford isn’t a big welterweight but he’s bigger than Taylor. And as good as Taylor is terms of skills, Crawford is better and more dynamic. Taylor is too talented to go quietly but he will eventually wear down and get stopped late in the fight.

Frauenheim: An intriguing fight a couple of years from now. Taylor has yet to make the jump from junior-welterweight to welter. Crawford has been fighting and winning at 147 pounds since 2018 — four fights, four victories, all by stoppage. Crawford’s punching precision with both hands punishes Taylor as he moves inside. Crawford, unanimous decision.

Nam: Given Taylor’s tendency to slightly fade late in fights, this one doesn’t bode for him. Crawford is one of the top finishers in the sport. Once blood starts trickling from Taylor’s eye, Crawford will pounce on him. Expect a painful ending for Taylor, whom Crawford stops before the final bell.

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TAYLOR VS. LOPEZ (15-0, 12 KOs)

Teofimo Lopez (here standing over admiring his knock down of Richard Conmmey) would have to move up in weight to face Taylor. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Rosenthal: Lopez is a beast at 135 pounds. He has an impressive ring IQ, he’s athletic and he can whack. Hence the excitement surrounding him. But how does he do against a top 140-pounder like Taylor? Probably very well. He’ll have some trouble with Taylor’s all-around ability and size but eventually he’ll get to him and dominate the second of the fight to win a clear decision.

Frauenheim: Lopez, who will turn 23 on July 30, is a lightweight poised to become a junior-welterweight. His confidence and explosive skill set give Taylor trouble. Then again, Prograis had confidence and explosive skill set, too. Taylor beat him. Two years from now, he scores a decision over Taylor. Today, they fight to a draw.

Nam: Lopez may be bigger than the average lightweight, but at junior welterweight he would fit right in with the rest of the division. Taylor is taller, rangier and punches hard enough to give Lopez a possibly rude awakening. On the other hand, Lopez, a power puncher with great reflexes, has a good shot of doing the same to Taylor. In the end, Taylor’s versatility and experience should give him a close decision.

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THE FINAL TALLY

Josh Taylor: 7-6-2 (2 KOs)

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THE STANDINGS

Canelo Alvarez: 15-0 (6 KOs)
Naoya Inoue: 14-0-1 (5 KOs)
Vassiliy Lomachenko: 14-0-1 (4 KOs)
Artur Beterbiev: 14-1 (11 KOs)
Tyson Fury: 14-1 (8 KOs)
Terence Crawford: 14-1 (3 KOs)
Errol Spence Jr.: 13-2 (6 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk: 10-5 (2 KOs)
Juan Francisco Estrada: 9-5-1 (1 KOs)
Gennadiy Golovkin: 9-6 (5 KOs)
Josh Taylor: 7-6-2 (2 KOs)
Mikey Garcia: 7-8 (0 KOs)