Josh Taylor Calls Time: The Journey of a Modern Boxing Great
Josh Taylor isn’t your typical retired fighter. At just 34, he steps away from the ring holding a place among Scotland’s greatest sports icons. Fans will always remember Taylor's night of glory in 2021, when he conquered José Ramírez and walked away with all four major junior welterweight world titles. In a sport with few undisputed champions, Taylor became the first Briton to do it in the modern four-belt era—a legacy that stacks his name alongside legends.
The roots of his story reach back to his amateur days. Taylor found early success by taking a silver medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, then going one better for gold four years later. By the time he turned professional, the signs were all there that big things were coming.
Once in the pro ranks, Taylor wasted no time. He built up a fearsome reputation, blasting through his early opponents with a combination of relentless aggression and clever footwork. His 5’10” frame and 69-inch reach gave him the physical tools to dictate fights. Under the guidance of trainer Joe McNally, Taylor grabbed regional titles like stepping stones: the Commonwealth belt soon found its way around his waist. But Taylor had much bigger plans. He wanted to be the king of the 140-pound division—and he made it happen.
Highs, Lows, and the Lasting Mark on Boxing
The climb to the very top hit a high point in the Josh Taylor versus Ramírez showdown, but the warning signs for tough times ahead appeared not long after. The boxing world buzzed when Taylor edged past Regis Prograis in a nail-biting 2019 classic, grabbing the Muhammad Ali Trophy and the prestigious Ring Magazine belt along the way. Victory against Ivan Baranchyk brought in the IBF title, and defenses against fighters like Apinun Khongsong solidified his elite status.
No fairy tale lasts forever. Fans can’t ignore the controversy that came with his split decision win over Jack Catterall in 2022. Right and wrong get blurry in boxing, but this particular result fueled debates across social media and ringside bars—many felt Catterall had done enough to win. Taylor’s own thoughts on the verdict were drowned out by the noise.
From there, the setbacks piled up fast. A punishing loss at the hands of Teofimo Lopez dented his aura, undoing a planned second act at welterweight. The rematch with Catterall added salt to the wound, and a final defeat against Ekow Essuman sealed the sense that Taylor’s time in the spotlight was over.
In the end, Taylor’s pro record stands at 19 wins and just three defeats, with 13 of those victories coming by knockout. Those numbers tell their own story: power, skill, accomplishment. Most boxers could only dream of the run he had, let alone holding all four world title belts at once. Taylor’s journey wasn’t all about glory—there were mistakes, missed chances, and plenty of critics. But there’s no debate that, for a few golden years, he was the face of Scottish boxing on the global stage. That’s a legacy you can’t write off.
