Taylor vs Postol: After The Fight Thoughts:

Taylor vs Postol: After The Fight Thoughts:

By Matthew Dean

As a fight fan we make decisions about upcoming fights basing those judgements on what we have already seen and what we think we know. I made a call about Taylor- Postol and got it wrong, big style. However as I was proven on this occasion, to get it wrong sometimes it means to get it right.

Instead of a two round blowout we were treated to a fine spectacle in the squared circle in which fighters through the generations would have been proud to have participated.

So Josh Taylor moves to 13-0. Postol drops to 29-2. Taylor is on the ascent and Postol although a good fighter is on the down, but maybe the slide is a little slower than most of us thought.

I had anticipated a quick ending. But it turned into a 12 round battle with each man putting his heart and soul on the line refusing to yield to the greater experience and ringcraft or the benefit of youth and being more active. The fight could have swung either way for me. It was an anything goes affair. The judges’ scores of 118-110, 117-110, 119-108 seem to suggest a much greater dominance by Taylor than what actually took place and simply didn’t credit the quality of the work put in by Postol.

I scored the fight 117-112 although being a partisan Taylor fan has given me additional bias also. Boxing scorecards have long been a contentious issue with people seeing different points of interest through the course of the fight. Is it a greater volume of power shots? A stellar defence masterfully executed? Who seems to have more command of ring centre? All of these contribute towards outcomes. Put 10 people in a room and ask them to score Hagler vs Leonard and that would produce an interesting outcome.

The fight started carefully with both boxers weighing up their chances and their opponent. Postol looked bright and undaunted by the occasion and Taylor a little anxious at times. Through the first few rounds it was evident a technical battle was unfolding before our eyes with both men having their successes.

By Rd. 3 it was obvious the Ukrainian had come to win although Taylor was starting to find more success with some bigger shots. Nonetheless there was excellent work at range meaning the rounds were being put in the bank for Postol.

By Rds. 4/5 both men were pushing to have the ring centre and reluctant to give it up to the other. Taylor was starting to bring it to his favour (in my eyes) however this was genuine back and forth stuff and the judges may have seen it differently at this stage.

Rd 6
Taylor came straight out & pushed Postol back but the Ukrainian starts to pepper him with shots. They aren’t hard ones but if the judges see them then they are scoring. Taylor is looking for the bigger shots and is working hard scoring on the inside but still Postol won’t wilt and is taking his punches well.

Rd7 Taylor looked more settled and took centre stage, getting more success when his switch hitting brought a big left rocking Postol backwards. Yet once again Postol took it and came right back at Taylor. Taylor was briefly hurt after a salvo of blows but any savvy fighter knows when to clinch so he held and rallied back. The ref warned Postol for use of shoulder but there was no ill will here it’s boxing not crotchet.

Taylor started the 8th cautiously, both looked for ring centre. Postol was better at range but Taylor was bossing the in-fighting. Another big left from Taylor and Postol again took it well. The Scot was gleaning confidence from these bigger shots landing and ended the round well, but there was still good work from the Ukrainian too.

Rd9 brought Taylor out firing and turned this into an inside battle situation with neither bettering the other. Both wanted this badly. A big right hand and again Postol refuses to go. Taylor was hunting for bigger shots here but Postol shocked the Scot with his retaliation. Hollywood moment at the finish to the round with Postol landing a hard right-left to the chin but the left of Taylor connected simultaneously with Postol’s chin creating a Rocky-Apollo Creed photo finish – both men shuddered.

Rd10 Both men vie for ring centre. Postol’s face seemed more marked. First half of the round Taylor’s guard appeared impenetrable then in the second half Postol had found a way in and had landed although it hadn’t bothered Taylor. An inside battle gifted Taylor the only fight knockdown with a wonderful left hook on Postol’s right temple. He took half a second to register and go down but was down and straight back up. He looked slightly shaken but was ok to fight on, Taylor came straight back and landed a big right hook, it wobbled Postol but not enough to floor the Ukrainian again

The knockdown in rd 10 invigorated Taylor and he is brimming with confidence in the 11th, launching good shots and coming forward. A well-timed hook and uppercuts shook the Ukrainians but he was still standing. Taylor has upped his gears but the Ukrainian still fights back and the two battle it out for ring centre.

Rd12 Both fighters touch gloves and embrace at start of the round as a sign of mutual respect. They tie each other up then Taylor comes forward a strong left send Postol backwards and Taylor chases into the corner. The ref separates them and the match resumes both men looking reinvigorated and eager ready as they were in rd 1, again trading shots in the ring centre. Taylor pushed the pace chasing Postol but the Ukrainian unleashes a flurry with minimal success. Taylor is pushed into bending position and grabs Postol round the midriff to briefly hold. The two warriors are noticeably tired and more holding ensues. The ref parts them again. Back to business and Postol and Taylor trade blows as the bell rings to end the fight.

We expected. A fight and we got it. I was glad my call was wrong as what we saw answers questions.

1. Can Taylor do 12 rds, yes easily

2. How does Taylor cope when he can’t knock them out? He is well prepared and has a plan A and plan B. Impeccable preparation with his team means he doesn’t panic and can elect to box his own game.

3. Can he be punched and take it? Yes Postol isn’t the biggest punchers with only 12 Kos but he stopped Mathysse. Postol hit Taylor with some solid shots and shocked him in rd 7 but he took the shots, clinched as he needed to and fired back.

This was a test of character and a learning fight but the question now is “Where next for Taylor?” There are many possibles but 1 of these 2 are my best guess

WBC light-welterweight holder Jose Ramirez looms.

This was the fight to decide who would be next in line for the WBC champ. He is fighting on July 7th against Danny O’Connor if he comes out of this still intact then we could see Taylor vs Ramirez later this year if contracts can be signed.

Regis Prograis

WBC interim title holder is in action July 14, against Juan Jose Velasco so he would need to come through this fight. Two undefeated fighters would be a good draw for the fans.

There are obviously other big names potential encounters out there, Terry Flanagan, Maurice Hooker, Adrien Broner, dream even of Lomachenko maybe but it will all come down to shrewd negotiating tactics, mandatories, money and the ever-present and contentious decisions of the governing bodies

What we can say is that Scotland’s hero of Ken Buchanan has an heir to his legacy.

Remember the name Josh Taylor – he is going far.