Home-town hero Taylor bags first world title with points win over Baranchyk in World Boxing Super Series
Scot set up a unification bout against WBA champ Regis Prograis in the WBSS final
JOSH TAYLOR was crowned IBF super-lightweight world champion after outpointing Ivan Baranchyk to progress to the World Boxing Super Series final.
Taylor set up a unification bout against WBA champ Regis Prograis in the WBSS final.
After outpointing Belerusian Baranchyk with scorecards of 117-109, 115-111, 115-111, Taylor told Sky Sports: "I'm over the moon. I took more risks than I should have, I switched off a couple of times and took more punches than I should have.
"I could have made it easier for myself but I was very comfortable in there.
“I was picking him off with and I just took my foot off the gas, it was easy.”
It was an excellent display of boxing by both men with the travelling champion Baranchyk taking slight control in the first half as Taylor found himself cut around his left eye.
In round six the 2014 Commonwealth gold medallist twice dropped Baranchyk.
Taylor timed a beautiful right hand as the champion too loaded up to let go a lead hook but found himself crumbling to the canvas as the Scot beat him to the punch.
As Baranchyk got to his feet the pair went nose to nose with their gloves up high and treated the Glasgow crowd to a trade off.
Taylor was the stronger of the two and backed the champion up eventually dropping him with straight shots through the guard.
The home fighter again had Baranchyk in trouble in the seventh though the 26-year-old showed grit to bite down on his gum shield and fight his way out of adversity.
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Taylor boxed his way to the world title in the remaining rounds with a precise jab and world class footwork - but smelling a fairytale end the Scot excited the crowd in the final round letting his hands go.
After claiming the IBF belt at the SSE Hydro Taylor said: "It has not quite sunk in, but I'm so delighted.
“I can't wait for the final now. I think I'm the best, Regis Prograis thinks he is the best."
