Frampton: Taylor’s Career a ‘Great British Sporting Feat’

Former world champion Carl Frampton has hailed Josh Taylor’s career as “one of the great British sporting feats ever,” praising the Scot’s achievement in becoming undisputed world champion. Taylor announced his retirement on Monday due to medical reasons, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned over a decade.

Taylor’s journey to the top began when he made his professional debut on a show headlined by Frampton in Texas back in 2015. Under the guidance of trainer Shane McGuigan, Taylor quickly made a name for himself in the boxing world. He won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2017, and later that year, he became the first British boxer to win a gold medal for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

Taylor’s success continued to grow, and in 2019, he became the first and only male fighter from the UK to capture all four world titles in a single division. He won the WBA (Super) and WBC (Diamond) titles, in addition to the WBO and IBF titles, becoming undisputed light-welterweight champion. This achievement was a testament to his skill and determination in the ring.

Taylor’s impressive record includes 18 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. He has also held the IBF, IBO, WBA (Super), and WBO light-welterweight titles, making him one of the most successful light-welterweights of all time. His notable victories include wins over Ricky Burns, Viktor Postol, and Ivan Baranchuk.

In addition to his achievements in the ring, Taylor has also been recognized for his charitable work. He has been involved in various fundraising campaigns, including supporting the Scottish Boxing Academy and the Cancer Research UK charity. His commitment to giving back to his community has earned him a reputation as a true champion both in and out of the ring.

Frampton, who trained alongside Taylor under Shane McGuigan, believes Taylor’s achievement in becoming undisputed champion in 18 fights is a testament to his greatness. “It literally doesn’t happen unless you’re someone like a Vasiliy Lomachenko or a Usyk or someone like that,” Frampton said. “Josh Taylor becoming undisputed champion in 18 fights in a marquee division should be recognised as one of the great British sporting feats ever.”

Throughout his career, Taylor has also represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, where he won a silver medal. His impressive record and numerous accolades have cemented his place in the history books, and Frampton believes he is deserving of a place in boxing’s Hall of Fame.

Frampton, a former two-weight world champion, has fond memories of watching Taylor’s career unfold. “I was there the whole way, pretty much,” he said. “Josh is a great friend of mine and he’s a good person as well. And he does a lot of good things behind the scenes, which people don’t see. Josh is just a good fella.”