London ever closer for Taylor as he makes Podium squad

Prestonpans’ Olympic boxing hopeful Josh Taylor has been given a boost in his bid to make the Team GB squad for next year’s Games in London.

Taylor has been promoted to the Podium squad for 2012 – but it only gets harder for the Lochend club lightweight after that.

“It means that I must train mainly now from Monday to Friday with the squad in Sheffield from now on instead of at my home club Lochend’s gym in Edinburgh,” he said.

Taylor, who has just returned from two weeks of sparring with the Mauritius boxing squad on the Indian Ocean island, added: “All I have to do in April in the Olympic qualifier tournament in Turkey is to reach the semi-final of that competition and I will definitely be in the British Olympic boxing squad in London.”

“Being a member of the Podium squad means that I will be touring Europe regularly in the coming months for sparring sessions with international teams like France and competing in the forthcoming Skanje tournament early in the new year.”

“However, one slight concern is that I have been battling recently to lose the last two kilos of weight – from 62kg to 60 – to make the 60kg lightweight limit that I’ve had to drop down to from light-welterweight in order to get the chance of an Olympic games team place. But I’m confident that I will definitely make 60kg and maintain that weight without unduly weakening myself for actual bouts.”