If Josh Taylor wants to carry on his reign as undisputed super-lightweight champion, then he will have to travel to Las Vegas for his next fight.
The WBA announced on Friday that the Scot’s mandatory defence of their title against Alberto Puello would be staged by TGB Promotions after the American outfit won the purse bids.
“With a bid of $200,000 the American company representing the challenger won the rights to organise the fight,” the WBA wrote in their press release.
“July 16 in Las Vegas was the only option given by the winning promoter of the fight.”
Taylor is to marry his fiancée Danielle four weeks earlier which may or may not complicate matters as will whether or not he continues to fight at super-lightweight.
On February 26 Taylor overcame the challenge of Jack Catterall to retain his four world titles with a split decision victory. His performance on the night at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro convinced many that it would be his last fight at the weight before moving up to welterweight. In post-fight interviews the 31-year-old said as much but in recent weeks Taylor seems uncertain.
Taylor may have won on the night against the Chorley southpaw but to many the result was a travesty with the majority of fans, fighters and media giving Catterall the nod. As the weeks and fallout have rumbled on Taylor has said he would like to face the Englishman once again but staying at 10 stone would come down to a team decision involving his nutritionist.
“I’ll need to have a good chat with my nutritionist and my team and see if we can do it safely or approach things differently if I stay at 140lbs,” he told The National earlier this month.
“I’m 31 and I’ve been making the same weight since I was 21. It’s getting harder in between fights and that last one proved really hard. You saw the state of me on the scales and the performance I put in was way below par.
“I want to fight Jack again to shut everyone else up I want to put it right, put it to bed and make sure I’m still the best in the division and the best in the world. I’d like to give Jack a rematch to really fill him in and perform at my best.
“If I stay at 140lbs, the WBA have already called in a mandatory so that has to happen next otherwise I get stripped of a title and if I stay at 140 there’s no way I’m giving up any of the belts.”
TGB Promotions are best known for working with Premier Boxing Champions whose shows are broadcast on Showtime in America. Taylor fought Stateside 14 months ago when he beat Jose Carlos Ramirez to become undisputed champion. However, despite the fight going down in Las Vegas, the sport’s fight capital, if took place in front of a limited crowd at the Virgin Hotels Resort. The lure of going back to Sin City once again with a Scottish-led travelling support may persuade Taylor to stay at 140lbs one more time.