Josh Taylor retires from boxing due to eye injury
The 34-year-old will go down in history as one of Scotland's greatest boxers, having won and then unified the world light-welterweight titles.
Taylor said in a statement: 'As has been publicised before, I've had a recurring issue with my eye that unfortunately means I now have to call time on my career or risk losing my eyesight.
'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.'
Taylor, from Prestonpans, turned professional one year after winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
He claimed the IBF version of the world light-welterweight title with a points win over Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow in May 2019, and added the WBA 'super' title by beating Regis Prograis in his next bout.
Taylor went on to beat previously undefeated Jose Ramirez to become the undisputed champion in Las Vegas in May 2021.
Taylor suffered his first defeat to Teofimo Lopez in New York in June 2023 and was also beaten in a rematch by British rival Jack Catterall in his following bout.
After undergoing surgery, Taylor returned for a bout against Ekow Essuman in Glasgow in May this year, but suffered his third consecutive defeat.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Gill may make mile bow when event returns to Commonwealth Games
Gill burst onto the scene last summer when she broke the European Under-18 record over 800m last year before going on to represent Team GB at the Paris Olympics aged just 18. Injury has limited her competitive action on the track so far this year, but the exciting talent believes next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow could be the perfect long-term target. 'It's exciting because I have never done a mile, so it gives me an opportunity to do my first mile maybe at the Commonwealth Games,' she said exactly one year out from the Games. 'As a middle-distance athlete, I focus on the 800m and 1500m, but the mile is such an historic event in England with people like Seb Coe and Steve Cram. 'For it to be brought back to the Commonwealth Games is so exciting, I know it is going to be such an incredible event to watch. To be able to participate is something to aim for.' Should Gill compete for England next summer, she will continue a special relationship with the Commonwealth Games. She made her international debut in an England vest at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2023, where she won the 800m in a Games record time in Trinidad & Tobago. And she revealed the transformative impact of that Games ahead of her stunning breakout season a year later. 'I learned what it's like to go out with a team for two weeks with a whole new group of people,' she reflected 'I gained a lot of confidence from it, and it gave me a good foundation to go into the Olympics the next year. 'When it came to representing Great Britain, I had an understanding of what it would be like to go out with a whole group of new people. 'I am so fortunate that Team England gave me the opportunity to represent my country. It is my favourite competition I have done; it was so much fun. 'The Commonwealth Games is historic and to be part of Team England means so much to me. I was 16 at the time and I was so excited to get my first England vest.' Gill is part of an exciting crop of English middle-distance runners, which includes established names as well as a whole host of young talents who could be looking to make their mark in Glasgow next summer. Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson leads the way in Gill's favoured 800m, while Georgia Hunter Bell has shown her ability across both distances. But Gill is also at the forefront of a new group of runners including European Under-20 5000m record holder Innes FitzGerald and fellow Commonwealth Youth Games athletes Jess Bailey and Lyla Belshaw. 'There are so many athletes my age who are running incredibly at the moment,' she added. 'I've been seeing the times going down and down, people getting faster and to be included in that cohort is something that I am very proud of. 'The competition right now for middle distance in the UK is at its top and it's so exciting to watch. 'Everyone is so friendly, we all get on so well and if we were all on the start line in Glasgow for the mile it would just be something truly incredible. It would be amazing to see what will come of it.' The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August 2026. Keep up with everything Team England at
South Wales Argus
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Laura Kenny taking on running challenge in lead up to Glasgow 2026
The 33-year-old won her last ever medal in the velodrome for Team England at Birmingham 2022 but will take on a new challenge as newly appointed President of Commonwealth Games England at next summer's Games. It's a role that means that she must keep her eye on a host of brand new sports. And despite always having a soft spot for track cycling, Kenny revealed that her eldest son Albie has swayed her interest this year, with his own athletics ambitions making her head swivel to the athletics track. "I've obviously always watched athletics, but last year, when we were watching the Olympics, my eldest Albie, was so interested in the running," she said. "So. I think that is what I'm most excited to see, more for his side. "I'm excited to see him actually watch a bit of live sport again, because he doesn't actually watch that much. "It's the way I got inspired as a kid, so I am hoping that it might inspire him. He does keep asking to join an athletics club anyway." The countdown to Glasgow 2026 is officially on, with today marking one year to go until the Games and Kenny's excitement around the action on the athletics track is only heightened by the re-introduction of a certain event. England have a rich history of middle-distance running, spanning from Seb Coe and Steve Ovett to Kelly Holmes and more recently Keely Hodgkinson. But its roots go all the way back to Roger Bannister's record-breaking sub-four-minute run and his glorious 'Miracle Mile' victory over Australia's John Landy in the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. And with the mile back on the programme in Glasgow, Kenny believes its reintroduction to the Games is just the event needed to inspire the next generation of English middle-distance runners. "I think anything that brings our history back into the limelight and back into the news is great," she said. "When you look back through English middle-distance running, it's the people that everyone knows. "I mean, Kelly Holmes, to me, is an absolute idol, and every time that she opens her mouth, I'm sat there amazed. "I was so lucky because she is a mate of mine now and I still sit there and just think she is so fascinating. "Any time that we can bring these people back into the news, I think that's how we get the next generation of people moving." Kenny herself has taken up running since her retirement in 2024, using it as the perfect way to relax away from a busy household. Following the birth of her daughter Lily in May of this year, the mum of three noted that running is the best way for her to get some exercise in without being away for a long period of time. She has even admitted that competition is brewing between her and seven-time Olympic medallist husband Jason, with the two set to run the London Marathon in 2026. "It's getting the peace and quiet, and running is an obvious one for that," she said. "Because obviously I am feeding Lily, and she's a bit of a cluster feeder during the day, I don't actually get that long where it's just me, so I can't go on a three-hour bike ride. "Running is an easy one, because you don't have to run for that long to get something out of it, especially because obviously I'm not a natural runner. "I'll go out for 20 or 30, minutes and I feel that I get so much out of it fitness-wise, but also it's my time to have a bit of me time." In her new role as President, Kenny is now ready to give back to athletes in the same way she benefitted at the start of her career. And with one year to go until Glasgow 2026, the excitement is brewing. "I'm so excited," she said. "The reason I took the role in the first place was because I felt like I wanted to give back to the athletes and because Team England have played a huge part in my career. "So, the bit that I'm most excited about is actually talking to the athletes and getting involved and that will only ramp up from now." The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August 2026. Keep up with everything Team England at
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
'Hard to turn down' - Eilish McColgan on her Glasgow 2026 dilemma and doping spectre
Scottish runner who lit up Birmingham 2022 has switched focus to road racing Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... She delivered the defining moment of the 2022 Commonwealth Games but Eilish McColgan is not 100 per cent sure if she will defend her 10,000 metres title at Glasgow 2026. The Dundonian athlete lit up the Alexander Stadium four years ago as she stormed to victory over 25 laps. In doing so she emulated her mother who won the 10,000m as Liz Lynch, her maiden name, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh then retained her crown four years later in Auckland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Her daughter has further followed in Liz McColgan's footsteps by making the move to road running. She made her marathon debut in London in April and it is where she sees her future. Eilish McColgan with Finnie, the mascot for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. | Craig Watson/Glasgow 2026 There will be no marathon at next summer's Commonwealths in Glasgow, with the city staging a slimmed down version of the Games after stepping in at the last minute to host when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. It has left Eilish McColgan in a quandary but she admitted the pull of performing at a home games might persuade her to return to the track. 'Obviously I'm not qualified and I don't have a crystal ball so I don't know what the future holds but I think if it had been any other championship anywhere else in the world, I probably wouldn't be gearing towards it because my main ambitions now are certainly on the road,' said McColgan who was this week named as the first official ambassador for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. 'But I think, for me, it's hard to turn down an opportunity to race in Glasgow, a home championship. How often do I get to do that? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So yeah, I'll definitely be making it high on my agenda to try and be here as an athlete and compete.' McColgan, 34, thought Birmingham 2022 was going to be her Commonwealth Games swan-song. As well as winning the 10,000m, she secured silver in the 5,000m. Not surprisingly, she feels it would have been a good way to say goodbye to the 'Friendly Games'. But Glasgow's late rescue mission has moved the goalposts and she could now find herself competing at the Commonwealths for a fourth time. 'It wasn't something I had originally planned in all honesty. It wasn't in my schedule. I thought Birmingham was a great way to cap off what was a brilliant track career but as I said, it's hard to turn down a home games opportunity. Eilish McColgan celebrates winning gold in the 10,000m at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium. | Getty Images 'I think for me there's just something about being back in Scotland knowing that my family, my friends, people from the community, my club where I have grown up and who have supported me can be here to watch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Obviously there's a lot of pressure going in as a defending champion - it's not easy to defend it. I don't know many people who have but, yeah, I'll give it my best go.' Mum Liz is one of the few to do the double and family is a huge driver for Eilish. She has fond memories of her late gran watching her Commonwealth Games debut when Glasgow last hosted in 2014 and would love to make more memories for those closest to her. 'The Commonwealths means a lot to my mum and it was probably one of the only races where my granny and grandad - her mum and dad - were in the stadium and were watching her win gold [in Edinburgh in 1986] and then similarly for me there's only been London 2012 and Glasgow and Birmingham, the home championships, where my mum and dad have been in the crowd. 'Glasgow 2014 was the only championships that even my granny came to watch. Unfortunately, my gran's no longer with us but that for me will always be a standout memory, my little granny in the stands with her little tartan beanie on her head cheering me on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's something so unique about hosting home championships so I think my mum was really proud that I'm here today in an ambassadorial role showcasing how good the Commonwealth Games can be and the legacy that can leave behind.' Gold medallist Eilish McColgan celebratesvictory in the women's 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images While Glasgow 2026 hovers on the horizon, Eilish sees her future as very much on the road. The four-time Olympian was the first Briton home at this year's London Marathon as she finished eighth in the women's elite race on her debut. Her time of 2:24:25 was more than two minutes quicker than the Scottish record set by Steph Twell in 2019 (2:26:40) and also beat her mum's marathon best of 2:26:52. 'That is the priority now moving forward for me,' she said. 'The next big one will be a half marathon in September and then to be honest I haven't actually planned any further than that just because I'm building back my training at the moment.' Ruth Chepngetich, the women's marathon world record holder, had been scheduled to run against McColgan in London but the Kenyan was last week provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for a banned substance. It is a blow to the sport's credibility and McColgan feels the authorities need to look beyond just the athlete involved. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is really disappointing. I think a lot of people now look at that and suspect that doping's rife within the sport. When the top, top person is doing it it is really disappointing but I think the agents and coaches need to be a little bit more responsible as well. I mean this isn't just Ruth doing this on her own. 'There's a deeper team involved here, whether there's coaches, doctors, agents… I think they need to be held responsible in some way. 'The ban is on the athlete but there needs to be something on the coaches and the people that are administrating this to try and cut it down. They're really having a big crackdown in Kenya at the moment which is amazing to see. Kenya Athletics, to be fair to them, have invested a lot of money in catching people and it is obviously clearly working which is great.' Eilish McColgan and Finnie the Unicorn during a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games photocall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group One of McColgan's first ambassadorial duties for Glasgow 2026 was to unveil the Games' new mascot, Finnie, a unicorn named after the city's famous Finnieston Crane. The mascot was devised with the help of 76 children from 24 schools across Glasgow and its signature feature is a horn inspired by the famous traffic cone on top of the Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern of Art. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I did like that, it's a very Glasgow touch,' said McColgan. Despite its last-minute nature, she is certain Glasgow 2026 will attract some of the sport's biggest names to Scotstoun, the venue for the athletics. 'I keep seeing people saying, 'do you think the top people will show up?' but your Laura Muirs, your Jake Wightmans, your Josh Kerrs, they're there all the time and I think there's something so unique about representing Scotland. 'We're very patriotic, we're a small nation but it's just special. We don't get the chance to do it very often so everyone does turn up. I remember Jake saying when he won the world championships: 'I need to get myself ready now for the Commonwealth Games'.
