Josh Taylor Rightfully Bound for Boxing Hall of Fame – Says Carl Frampton
Josh Taylor deserves a seat at boxing’s most prestigious table, the Hall of Fame. That’s the message loud and clear from Carl Frampton, former world champion and long-time friend of the Scottish boxing sensation.
The former unified champion, who hung up his gloves due to medical reasons, leaves behind a legacy that Frampton believes ranks among the very best in British sport. And he’s not just throwing around praise lightly.
“Josh should be proud of everything he’s done in his career, especially becoming an undisputed champion,” Frampton said.
Frampton knows what it takes to make it in boxing. But Taylor, he says, did the unthinkable. The Scot became the first, and still only, male fighter from the UK to hold all four recognised world titles in one division. Not in his 30th or 40th fight. But in his 18th.
“We see how much of a big deal it is that people make of the undisputed heavyweight champion when Oleksander Usyk beat Daniel Dubois at the weekend. Josh Taylor was undisputed in 18 fights – that’s unbelievable. Hard to fathom, really.”
For Frampton, that puts Taylor in the elite tier. Among legends. The Lomachenkos.
The Usyks. “Josh Taylor becoming undisputed champion in 18 fights in a marquee division, not down at light-flyweight where nobody fights or anything like that, a marquee division, should be recognised as one of the great British sporting feats ever.”
Josh’s journey to the top wasn’t just remarkable, it was also cut short unexpectedly. He recently confirmed his retirement, citing a serious eye injury that brought his career to an early close. Read more about Josh Taylor’s retirement and the injury that forced the decision.
And he’s not wrong. Taylor’s climb, marked by grit, skill, and pure heart—culminated in him ruling the light-welterweight division. From Commonwealth silver and gold, to flying the flag for Team GB at London 2012, his path has been nothing short of monumental.
“Undisputed light-welterweight champion in 18 fights is Hall of Fame behaviour, I think.”
Frampton also shared how closely he followed Taylor’s journey. Their paths crossed early, training under Shane McGuigan, and the connection was instant. Frampton headlined the Texas event in 2015 where Taylor made his professional debut.
“I was there the whole way, pretty much,” he told BBC Scotland. “Josh is a great friend of mine and he’s a good person as well. And he does a lot of good things behind the scenes, which people don’t see. Josh is just a good fella.”
“I’m very, very proud that I was able to witness some of his greatness up close and personal.”
Now, as Taylor steps away from the ring, the focus shifts to his legacy. And if Frampton’s words carry weight, and they do, then the Hall of Fame shouldn’t be a question. It should be a certainty.
A career that didn’t just shine, it burned bright in the sport’s highest arenas. From a proud Scottish prospect to a globally recognised champion, Josh Taylor’s name deserves to be carved in boxing history.
And according to Frampton, that moment is long overdue.
