Josh Taylor has put the welterweight division on notice and warned he will be a monster at the next level.
The Scot performed a great escape at the Hydro on Saturday when he was handed a controversial split decision against England’s Jack Catterall.
Taylor’s 13,000 strong Tartan Army celebrated the win – but Catterall and fight pundits united to savage the call.
Scotland’s undisputed champ was adamant he deserved to hang on to his belts but will eventually hand them back as he will step up to welter level and set himself on a collision course with some of boxing 's greats.
Taylor is out to become a two weight world champ – with a showdown with pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford already in the pipeline.
The Tartan Tornado admitted he didn’t shine against Catterall but he vowed he’ll be back to his best in the bigger weight class. Taylor said: “That’ll be my last performance at 140lbs. All the big marquee fights are at 147lbs for me. Even the non title fights are massive.
“I feel I have earned the right to be in big fights now, the way I came up.
“I took all the risks very early on in my career when other fighters would have waited. I jumped in at the deep end when it was sink or swim and I showed I can swim. I’m definitely one of the best in the sport.
“I know it wasn’t one of my best performances. Everyone at welter will be looking and thinking Josh Taylor will be an easy fight because of a close fight with Jack Catterall.
“But trust me, that was far from my best. I’m going to be a monster when I go up to 147lbs. I’ll be even better than I am now.”
Chorley ace Catterall refused to speak to media after Saturday’s controversial defeat but came out fighting on Sunday.
Taylor struggled to deal with the 28-year-old’s awkward, aggressive style and the Scot was put on the canvas for the first time in his career in an eighth-round knock down.
It still wasn’t enough to sway under fire judges and Catterall said: “I should have been waking up with all the belts. I sacrificed everything to fight one of the best pound-for-pound ranked fighters and I gave him a lesson.
“For what? Boxing, shame on you. Judges – dreams stolen.”
Promoter Ben Shalom said: “I’m embarrassed because I was promoting this event. That’s heartbreaking for Jack. If there’s not an inquest, it’s going to harm the sport.”
There was no rematch clause in the fight deal but Taylor refused to dismiss the chance of another showdown – if the Englishman follows him up to the welterweight division. Taylor said: “We’ll see what happens. Whatever is best for me.
“On my best display, Jack doesn’t get anywhere near me. That was a 60 percent performance by me and I still won.
“That was Catterall’s best ever display. I don’t mean that disrespectfully, because I have huge respect for Jack.
“But I am so much better than I showed.”
