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Former Champ Correctly Picks WBSS Final, What’s Next For Josh Taylor?

Former IBF Lightweight titleholder Miguel Vázquez correctly predicted that Josh Taylor would defeat Regis Prograis in their 140 pound unification fight this past Saturday.

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Former IBF Lightweight titleholder Miguel Vázquez correctly predicted that Josh Taylor would defeat Regis Prograis in their 140 pound unification fight this past Saturday.

“He is strong and is a better combatant and has more potential to win,” said Former IBF Lightweight titleholder Miguel Vázquez in an exclusive interview with Round By Round Boxing ahead of the clash.

“While Prograis might be a boxer [stylistically] I am picking Josh Taylor to win 100 percent.”

Vázquez fought Taylor in 2017, and though he was dominant in some of the early rounds, he eventually succumbed to Taylor’s superior power.

Vázquez’s career has included fights with everyone from Timothy Bradley, Jr. to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and he had a keen eye in picking Taylor. Many commentators in North America figured Prograis would win the fight quickly.

Despite his illustrious ring resume the first-and-only stoppage loss in Vazquez’s 50-fight career thus far was against Taylor. Earlier this year Vazquez returned to London and lost to local favorite Ohara Davies in a fight that many thought Vazquez won (Davies, according to Vazquez, said as much after that fight).

Prograis hoped to finish Taylor earlier but, the clever Scotsman did not fall for the traps that Prograis set.

Soon fighting from behind, Prograis slowly kept out of the counterpunching low-guard stance into a more traditional one as the fight war on. Taylor won the fight on two of the three official scorecards, with the third having it even at 114-114.

What’s Next for Josh Taylor?

Following the final of the World Boxing Super Series in which Taylor unified two alphabet titles, the Muhammad Ali trophy and the Ring magazine world title in the fight.

Taylor, still only 28, is now the king of British boxing and looks to have plenty of opportunities in front of him. These include a potential fight with Gervonta Davis, who is headed to 135 pounds to attempt to pick up a world title in his second weight class, on December 28.

Davis and Taylor have been trading punches already–on Twitter. Taylor could also face fellow 140-pound titleholder Jose Ramirez, though Ramirez has primarily focused his career in California where he has reliable local appeal.

A rematch with Prograis seems like another option as well, though ultimately Taylor seems destined to enter the Welterweight mix at some point.

A move to 147 could potentially see Taylor take on Terence Crawford, who might be tempted to fight in the UK.

Crawford has already built a bit of a name for himself in the UK with his recent title defense against the ever-popular Amir Khan.

Also, Taylor would have some extra incentive to get some revenge for fellow Scot Ricky Burns as Crawford defeated him in Scotland to win the WBO title back in March of 2014.

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