Josh Taylor captures spot in finals of World Boxing Super Series with exciting victory over Ivan Baranchyk

Josh Taylor boxed and punched his way to a unanimous decision victory over Ivan Baranchyk at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland Saturday night.

Taylor, the new IBF junior welterweight champion, sealed his impressive victory by knocking the durable Baranchyk down twice in round six.

The scores were 117-109, and 115-111 (twice)

Maxboxing had Taylor winning the bout by 116-110 tally.

In round one, southpaw Taylor, with his hometown fans cheering his every move, stuck out his right. He connected with a few combination. Baranchyk swung from the heels but missed most of his punches. A left hook did land. Taylor’s advantage in foot and hand speed was obvious. Baranchyk forced the action in rounds two and three. He went to the body. Taylor, taller by a few inches, bounced and popped shots. His use of angles was impressive. He was making the big ring his home. He circulated and jabbed. The tank like Baranchyk fired an uppercut but ate a crisp counter combination. Taylor went toe to toe with Baranchyk for a few seconds. He landed, but none of them bothered Baranchyk.

Baranchyk connected with a hard right off the side of Taylor’s face in round four. Taylor dug to the body. The blow seemed to hurt Baranchyk for a few seconds. He backed up for the first time in the fight.

Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) moved to his left and right. His boxing was sweet and winning him the fight.

Baranchyk, always dangerous, did well in the first half of round five. He opened up a cut over Taylor’s left eye. A left and right wobbled Taylor, but the Irish sensation fought back in the last seconds of the round. Baranchyk (19-1, 12 KOs) was putting everything he had into every punch. He connected to the body.

Taylor rallied back in next stanza. He landed his own hooks to the belly. A counter right put Baranchyk down for the fist time in his career. Baranchyk got up but looked hurt. Taylor went after Baranchyk immediately. He fired shots causing Baranchyk to collapse near the ropes. The tought Russian got up quickly as the bell rang. Taylor went back to the body in round seven. He couldn’t miss. Baranchyk fought back with winging shots. Taylor ducked and fired.

Baranchyk looked a little ragged as the round ended. Taylor maintained control in rounds eight and nine. If he boxed and stayed long, the fight was his with ease. Baranchyk needed to be close to land. Taylor boxed and slugged. Baranchyk found some consistent success for the first time in a few rounds. Taylor connected with a shot off the side Baranchyks’ head. A combination also landed. His bodywork was bothering Baranchyk.

With three rounds to go in the contest, there was no quit in Baranchyk. He continued to wing shots from Russia, but Taylor was still beating him to the punch. Taylor opened up and hurt Baranchyk again. He knocked him backwards and into the ropes. Baranchyk was breathing hard. Taylor strafed his body with solid blows. Baranchyk wobbled to his corner. Taylor went right back downstairs in round 11. Baranchyk shocked Taylor with a right that appeared to buckle his legs. Taylor stayed away for a few seconds and didn’t punch. Perhaps he was hurt. Both fighters landed to the body and head as the bell rang.

Baranchyk would need a knockout in the last round to win. Taylor moved and flicked his jab. A big right hurt Baranchyk, but still he marched after Taylor. He fired clubbing shots. Maybe one landed. Taylor was boxing but ate a sweeping left. Taylor fought back at the bell to earn his victory with class and intensity.

“This is a dream come true,” said Taylor. “This is brilliant. I felt really comfortable. I’ve dreamed of this moment. I’m over the moon.”

Taylor will meet Regis Prograis in the finals.