ONLY the sixth fighter to become undisputed world champion in the modern four-belt era since the 1980s. The first UK-based fighter to become undisputed since Lennox Lewis. The first Scot to become undisputed champion of his division since Ken Buchanan became the undisputed lightweight world champion in 1970.

This remarkable feat of Josh Taylor’s at junior welterweight is made all the more remarkable by the fact he’s achieved it in just 18 fights. Further still, he achieved it against Jose Ramirez in front of a hostile crowd in Vegas with just a small team behind him. Due to Covid there was no Tartan Army there to roar him on. Rather than affect his performance, however, if anything it spurred him on.

In the days leading up to the fight – which Taylor won by unanimous decision after scoring two knockdowns – the 30-year-old southpaw was wired so tight he was like the human equivalent of a hand grenade. Footage of him getting in the face of Ramirez and his manager, at one point almost causing a riot by hordes of Ramirez’s fans in the hotel where both fighters and their teams were staying, confirmed he had not arrived in town looking to make friends or work on his diplomatic skills.