Taylor seeks 'perfect response' as two-weight champion

Josh Taylor says becoming a two-weight world champion would be the perfect response to those who believe he is finished as a top-level fighter.

The Scot, 34, fights England's Ekow Essuman at Glasgow's Hydro on 24 May, moving up in weight to compete in the 147lb welterweight division for the first time.

Former undisputed light-welterweight champion Taylor is looking to get his career back on track following back-to-back losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall.

"The desire and the hunger is still there. I want to achieve more in the game," Taylor told BBC Scotland.

"I've got plenty of naysayers that say 'you can't do this, you can't do that'. So I like to prove them wrong as well.

"When I become a two-weight world champion then it's a good middle finger up to a lot of people."

Taylor admits the move up in weight should have come earlier in his career, and believes the 147lb division offers some exciting possibilities.

He added: "I just think in hindsight - it's a great thing - I probably should have done it right after I won the undisputed title [against Jose Ramirez in May 2021].

"But I had made a deal with Jack [Catterall], shook his hand that if I got the fight against Ramirez and won I would give him the first shot and I stuck to my word. But in hindsight, I should have probably moved up then.

"I've maybe stayed at 140 maybe for one too many fights but that's all been said and done and we're on to the new chapter and I'm looking forward to it.

"The welterweight division is quite hot at the minute. There's a few big fights to be made. You're talking on the bigger scale - Conor Benn and things like that, they're all massive mega-fights.

"These are fights that keep me excited and get the belly burning and get the butterflies in the belly."