Josh Taylor: ‘Terence Crawford is the fight that would give me the fear factor’

Sweat pours down Josh Taylor’s face as the rope whirrs above his head and his feet blur beneath him. The best boxer in Britain, and one of the leading pound-for-pound fighters in the world, skips faster and faster in a stark and anonymous building in Harlow, Essex. We’re in the gym where Taylor has spent so much of the past two months preparing to defend his undisputed world light-welterweight titles against Jack Catterall in Glasgow on Saturday.

In his last bout, nine months ago, Taylor became the first British fighter, and the fifth man in boxing’s four-belt history, to win the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles in his division. He defeated the previously unbeaten José Ramírez in a thrilling battle, twice knocking down the tough American on his way to a unanimous victory on points in Las Vegas.

Yet today, after a gruelling sparring session, Taylor howls in frustration when his feet get caught up in the rope and his frenetic skipping routine misses his target. He soon grins again as he resumes skipping and counting – only for the same thing to happen a minute later. This time there is also a mock wail of anguish because the rope hits his thigh with a real sting. Taylor rubs his leg while cursing cheerfully.

The 31-year-old Scot has a perfect 18-0 record, and some compelling fights ahead of him if he beats Catterall, but he has grown used to not receiving the praise his boxing skills deserve. When we leave the gym a few hours later there are no surprised looks of recognition, or requests for selfies, from people walking past. No one even glances for long at Taylor who doesn’t seem bothered as he offers me a lift to the station. There is no need but it works as a reminder that Taylor still leads a relatively ordinary life