Josh Taylor has the potential to rival the achievements of Scottish great Ken Buchanan, says former WBA world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan.
Taylor, 24, is managed by McGuigan now that he has turned professional and the Irishman thinks the Prestonpans fighter has the talent to become a star.
“He really is of that ilk, Josh Taylor. We would love for him to achieve what Ken Buchanan achieved,” he said.
“This is the best talent that has come out of Scotland since Buchanan.”
McGuigan, whose son Shane trains Taylor in Battersea, continued: “I have no doubt about it. I have never seen anything like him.
“I watched him throughout his amateur career. For pure talent, I don’t think there has been a more successful amateur for Scotland since (1956 Olympic gold medallist) Dick McTaggart.
“I don’t want to be disparaging to Ricky Burns, Scott Harrison, Pat Clinton, Paul Weir, Jim Watt and the great Buchanan, but he is so naturally gifted, we call him the Tartan Tornado.
“He fights at pace, he fights aggressively and he can box. I am very excited about him. He’s got the full shebang. We want to bring him back home and build his fan base there.
“He is naturally very funny and a good-looking kid and he is going to be a major draw. He is intelligent and is lovely to be around. I think he is going to have a great future.”
Taylor won gold for Scotland in the 64kg category at last year’s Commonwealth Games, having won silver at the Games in Delhi four years earlier.
