Scotlands top amateur boxer and Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Josh Taylor, is currently in Baku, Azerbaijan awaiting his opening bout of the AIBA World Championships against Kazakhstans Daniyar Yeleussinov tomorrow evening (30 Sept).
The World Championships held every two years, are widely viewed as the toughest competition in amateur boxing. A total of 570 boxers from 74 countries across the globe are in Baku competing to be crowned World Champion across the 10 weight categories.
20 year old Josh is Scotlands only representative at the World Championships. But having already collected a Silver Medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Gold at the Belgrade Winners Tournament in the past year, he has no qualms about flying the flag for Scotland and is in confident mood ahead of tomorrows 64kg clash.
Speaking from Baku, Josh said It’s a great experience being at my first World Championships. It’s an eye-opener in terms of the standard of competition and also the strength across nations. I’m feeling really confident. I’m fit, feeling strong and raring to go. I’ve got the Kazakh boxer, and I’ll box anyone who’s in front of me and I’m confident I’ll do the business”
His opponent Daniyar Yeleussinov, who won Gold at the 2010 Asian Games, will provide a very tough test for young Josh. However, having had recently only narrowly lost to 2009 World Amateur Champion Dominico Valetino of Italy, in the European Championships Quarter Finals in Turkey, Josh knows that he is capable of competing at the top level.
Scotland also have representation at Official level in Baku as 3 star referee Andy Caulfield has been selected and appointed by AIBA to referee at the World Championships.
