Taylor Takes Home Titles, Ali Trophy

Josh Taylor entered the O2 Arena as the IBF super lightweight champion, and he left after adding the WBA (Super) title and Muhammad Ali Trophy to his collection, as he defeated Regis Prograis to win the super lightweight portion of the 2018-19 World Boxing Super Series.

☝️ Count ‘em @JoshTaylorBoxer #PrograisTaylor pic.twitter.com/4lbs9Luote

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 26, 2019

From start to finish, a straight-up WAR 🔥#PrograisTaylor pic.twitter.com/79JAJwqPkX

— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) October 26, 2019

The fight featured plenty of body work throughout, with Prograis starting things off in the first round as Taylor established his jab before the Scotsman joined in during the following frame.

Prograis seemed to pick up control in the fourth round as he began to move around and defend well while connecting, but Taylor again answered over the next couple of rounds, as he found his range and fired off several combinations, busting the American’s nose open in the seventh.

How you scoring this after six? 🏆 #PrograisTaylor #AliTrophy pic.twitter.com/XH2427QhSK

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 26, 2019

After a quiet eighth round, Taylor picked things back up by hurting Prograis in the ninth round and rocking him during the 10th. While Prograis had a really good 11th round and the 12th proved to be a firefight, it wouldn’t be enough for him.

This Right Hook from Josh Taylor 💥

Is he ahead on your scorecards? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/E0FVoaQ8ka

— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) October 26, 2019

One judge ultimately ruled the contest a 114-114 draw, but the other two scored it for Taylor, 115-113 and 117-112.

In his post-fight comments, Taylor said he’d like to see a fight with Jose Ramirez, who holds the WBC and WBO versions of the super lightweight crown, for an undisputed title fight.