FILE – Josh Taylor poses after defeating Alfonso Olvera in a super lightweight fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taylor won by unanimous decision. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Scottish boxing champion Josh Taylor has the utmost admiration for his idol Manny Pacquiao.
That’s why he’s not going to hold anything back if he gets a chance to fight the Filipino boxing legend.
“Manny Pacquiao is my hero. To share the ring with my hero would be brilliant. It would be amazing. That would be a dream come true in itself sharing the ring with Manny Pacquiao,” Taylor told BT Sport recently as posted on boxingscene.com.
“Obviously once you get in there you go in there to take his head off. I would love to fight my hero it would be brilliant.”
The 29-year-old Taylor, the reigning IBF and WBA (super) light welterweight champion, had earlier said that he would be open to moving up in weight to challenge Pacquiao.
Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) beat Regis Prograis by majority decision in his last bout nine months ago in the World Boxing Super Series final at The O2 Arena in London, England.
The 41-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who holds the WBA (Super) welterweight title, hasn’t fought since beating Keith Thurman almost a year ago at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao has been reportedly in talks with Top Rank chief Bob Arum and WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford for a potential showdown.