JOSH TAYLOR hopes his performance in becoming undisputed world champion will help to inspire the next generation of Scottish boxers.
The southpaw returned to his hometown of Prestonpans earlier this week to a rapturous welcome, his only regret that he couldn’t spend more time with those who had lined the streets because of quarantine guidelines.
Taylor worries he’s let people down by having to keep his distance ahead of a five-day stint in self-isolation and hopes those who turned out didn’t think he was being arrogant.
He said: “The homecoming in Prestonpans was really cool. Driving back home, the streets were filled with familiar faces – friends, family and so many people I’ve known for so long.
“There were a lot of kids there as well, all cheering me on, singing and dancing, making a big scene of it. It was really special.
“But I wanted nothing more than to just get out of the car and embrace them, join them in celebrations, go into the pub with them all and have a big party.
“I wanted to thank them all for their support. Instead, I had to stay in the car, wave and take a couple of quick selfies.
READ MORE: Josh Taylor has made the world take notice after victory over Jose Ramirez
“I gave my dad a quick hug and lifted his hand up. Then I had to come away and come down the road, come home – and just sit here.
“So it’s been really cool, the response I’ve had from the media and everyone. But it’s also been very deflating and frustrating, as well.
“I felt as if I was being ignorant or something. Like they might think I was being arrogant.
“All the kids were there wanting photos. I hung out the window of the car and took a couple of photos, shook a few hands.
“So it really stinks that I’ve had to come home and do this for the next couple of days. It’s really, really frustrating.”
But he hopes the throng of youngsters who came out to greet him – as well as the thousands of others who have been following his adventures over in Las Vegas – will remember that moment when they set out on their own boxing journeys.
And Taylor hopes he can now become more hands-on in his local community and beyond.
“It’s all about inspiring future generations and younger kids,” he added.
“I was a kid who looked up to Alex Arthur, Paul Appleby, Scott Harrison and guys like that. They all inspired me to do what they were doing.
“I wanted to be involved in the big fights they were in, I watched them training and saw what was needed.
“For me, there’s not a lot of opportunity for kids back home in Prestonpans, although it’s a bit better now.
READ MORE: Josh Taylor on Vegas party, peerage suggestion and home support
“But I want to inspire the kids. I've not got enough time for them so I'd like to make more time for them and see them more and speak to them.
“I'd like to kick back with them for 20 minutes or half an hour and even just see how they're getting on.
“I can try and guide them, although I can't say, ‘do this and do that’ but try and have a positive mind and a positive impact on them.”
The Scottish FA have offered Hampden as a possible venue for a future world title defence and Taylor hoped he would perform better than his favourite football team, Hibernian.
He added: “I’d love to fight at Hampden, although that might just be a little bit too big.
“I know I pull in a good crowd but could I sell 75,000 tickets? I don’t know. That would be some feat, an achievement in itself. It’s probably asking too much but never say never.
“It would be really cool to fight there, though. Mike Tyson only drew 20,000 so there you go but it could happen.
“I’d certainly like to hope so because – if that were announced – it would be amazing. Why not? I have some great support.
“Hopefully I’ll do better than my team in the Scottish Cup final last weekend. They Hibsed it, didn’t they?
“But it is what it is: you win some, you lose some. Unless you’re Josh Taylor - then you win them all!”
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