Two undefeated fighters come face to face this Saturday evening for the IBF and WBC Silver super lightweight titles when Josh Taylor (14-0, 12 KOs) takes on Ivan Baranchyk (19-0, 12 KOs) in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) 140-pound division. The fight will be live on DAZN and the Tartan Tornado is relishing his chance to fight for a world title.
“I can’t wait to get in there and let my hands go," Taylor said to Boxing Social. "I feel great. I’ve had great preparation and feeling really good and ready to go.”
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Fighting in his home country of Scotland for the ninth time and the fourth consecutive time at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Taylor is extremely confident that he can dethrone the current IBF world super lightweight champion and feels that the 26-year-old Belarusian hasn’t been in the ring with a fighter of Taylor’s quality before.
“I feel that I’ve had better tests as a professional," he said. "I don’t feel as if he’s really boxed at this level of opposition as I have in my short career. I’ve had big tests; he’s had zero tests and I’ll be giving him the biggest test of his career on Saturday and I’ll be taking his belt off him and ending his short reign as world champion”
Taylor went on to speak about fighting in front of his fellow countrymen again.
“I’m over the moon that I’m getting a world title chance in my home country," he continued. "Just down the road from my home city, all my friends and family and people I’ve met along the way can all get a chance to see me fight for this world title and come away with the victory and become a world champion. For years I’ve wanted to be a world champion, and this is the opportunity. It’s great that I’m getting this kind of support and people are recognizing that my hard work is starting to pay off in what I’ve been doing over the years and my dedication to this sport. The big chance his here and the people are getting behind me and I hope that I don’t disappoint them on Saturday, and I won’t.”
This WBSS semifinal has an IBF check weight and a ten-pound rehydration clause and the Scottish southpaw is more than happy with how his preparations have gone in making the weight.
“I did the check weight this morning and was bang on, I did a little bit of a sweat session this morning but nothing too serious, just a little move around and a little skip. I’m under the weight, I’ve had something to eat and drink so I’m making the weight fine. I’ll be looking to put on a good performance and hopefully, I win this world title and it’s the start of many things to come and many big nights to come."