Former undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor has officially announced his retirement from boxing today, on July 21, 2025.
The 34-year-old Scotsman has lost his last three fights in a row, and hasn’t won in over three years. However, his recent losing streak is not the reason for his decision to hang up the gloves.
“The Tartan Tornado” took to social media to announce the difficult news: “End of an era. I have lived my dream for the last 10 years & conquered Mount Everest.
“Thank you to every single one of you for the support through what has been this mad rollercoaster of a journey.
“Boxing is all I’ve ever known but now let’s see what life has to offer on the other side of the ropes.”
His official statement was attached as a graphic to his post, which revealed he has incurred an eye injury forcing him to make the difficult decision to retire.
The statement read: “Right folks, this isn’t an easy post for me to write, but on the advice of my doctors, it’s sadly a necessary one.
“While the fighter in me always wants to box on, I know I have to listen to the medical professionals and save me from myself.
“It is certainly not the way I wanted to bow out but I have to listen to the doctors and those around me.
“I am just a kid from the Pans who scaled the very top of the sport but I could not have done it without those who have supported me through thick and thin.”
Despite dreaming of becoming motorcycle world champion, like his childhood heroes Steve Hislop and Valentino Rossi, Taylor instead became a taekwondo champion before switching to boxing aged 15.
From Prestonpans, Scotland, he won silver at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, then went one better in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games to win gold.
His pro debut in 2015 saw him win by second-round knockout in Texas. He knocked out his first seven opponents, which saw him crowned Commonwealth super-lightweight champion with his seventh stoppage in October 2016.
In his 10th pro bout, he defeated domestic rival Ohara Davies in round seven in Glasgow in what was a a real grudge match after a lot of needle in the build-up.
In 2018, Taylor entered the World Boxing Super Series, which catapulted him to global stardom. JT defeated three unbeaten opponents in the tournament – 22-0 Ryan Martin; 19-0 Ivan Baranchyk; 24-0 Regis Prograis.
He left the tournament as the overall winner and WBA Super, IBF world and Ring Magazine super-lightweight champion.
In his 18th bout, he made history by decisioning Jose Ramirez unanimously in Las Vegas to add the WBC and WBO belts to his collection, crowning him as Scotland’s first-ever undisputed champion in a four-belt era and second only in his country’s history.
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