Josh Taylor is now the holder of two world titles having begun the year as Undisputed Super Lightweight champion.
The World Boxing Council revealed this evening that they had received a letter from the Scot’s attorney informing them of his decision to relinquish the WBC world title. With the belt now vacant mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda and former champion and Taylor opponent Jose Ramirez have been put forward to fight for the championship.
Halfway through last month it was announced that Taylor was no longer the WBA champion. It was announced on social media by the World Boxing Association that the title was vacant.
In a letter to the WBA, Taylor wrote:
“I have been a proud WBA champion since 2019 when I defeated Regis Prograis. Unfortunately, due to my upcoming wedding and honeymoon this summer I am unable to fulfil my mandatory obligations and defend against Alberto Puello in a timely fashion.”
“I do not want to deal a fellow fighter fulfilling his own career dreams and for that reason I must respectfully vacate. I wish the best to the fighters who will contest the vacant title and look forward to being a WBA champion again in the future.”
Taylor is still the unified champion at 140lbs and holds the IBF and WBO world titles. Overall, this could be good news for British rival Jack Catterall. After their Undisputed tussle back in February, which Taylor won on a contentious split decision, there had been calls for his opponent to get a rematch.
This week ‘The Tartan Tornado’ told Sky Sports that everything was being done to make the second Catterall fight happen.
“This time around the motivation is there which I never had the last time, the motivation is there because of everything that has happened since the fight.”
“Hopefully the sooner the better for me. The only reason I’m staying at the weight is to fight Catterall. Obviously, Zepeda is a huge fight as well, that’s the one that looks like it’s happening next.”
But now Zepeda is not next. The door is now wide open for Taylor and Catterall’s teams to sit down and thrash out a deal for what would be a highly anticipated rematch should it happen.
And also, this evening Taylor tagged Catterall in on his Instagram story with a screenshot of the WBC’s headline that their title was now vacant. “Happy Birthday @jackcatt1” he wrote. Catterall turns 29 today and later this year he may get a belated present as the Super Lightweight contender could be about to challenge for a world title once again.