Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) dominated previously unbeaten IBF light welterweight champion Ivan Baranchyk (19-1, 12 Kos) in beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night to advance to the final of the World Boxing Super Series light welterweight tournament at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
Taylor dominated the first four rounds before running into trouble in the fifth round after getting clipped by a big right hand from Baranchyk. Taylor came back strong in the sixth to knock Baranchyk down twice. From there on, it was all Taylor dominating the fight.
The final scores were 117-109, 115-111, and 115-111.
With the win, Taylor will now meet WBA light welterweight champion Regis Prograis in the final of the WBSS tournament later this year.
“This is a dream come true, I’m over the moon,” Taylor said afterwards. “I took more risks than I should of and switched off a couple of times, it could have been easier. Thanks to all my fans.”
Taylor is kidding himself about the fight could have been easier. Baranchyk, 26, was coming all night long, putting pressure on Taylor. Not matter how much movement that Taylor used in the ring, Baranchyk was able to get to him. Unless Taylor wanted to run from Baranchyk, he was going to get to him and land his shots. This was not an easy fight for Taylor, despite the wide scores. It was a very competitive match-up. Baranchyk landed the ring IQ, and the power to get the job done. This could have been a nightmare for Taylor if Baranchyk had a little more power, and some superior polish of a more technically oriented fighter.
Baranchyk hurt Taylor in the fifth round after catching him with a big shot to the head. Taylor was wobbling. Taylor walked into a big uppercut that knocked him silly or a second.
In the later rounds, Taylor fought dirty at times, hitting on the break, using his forearm across the face of Baranchyk, and sticking his right arm far out in front of him to keep the Russian fighter from getting close. Taylor used a trick where the two would be in a clinch, and then right before Baranchyk pull away for a break, he would hit him in the head. Baranchyk never figured out that he couldn’t just rest in the clinch. He had to fight. You can believe that Regis Prograis won’t make the same mistake that Baranchyk did.
Naoya Inoue vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez results
WBA bantamweight champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs) took care of business in destroying IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-1, 12 KOs) by a second round. Inoue, 26, dropped Rodriguez three times in the second round before the referee waived it off.
Inoue will likely be the favorite against Nonito Donaire in the final of the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament.
