Anthony Taylor, recognized for his numerous fight sports activities background, prefers to be acknowledged as a “crossover boxer” reasonably than an “influencer boxer,” reflecting his dedication to carving out a novel area of interest within the battle recreation.
Recent off a second-round knockout of Samuel Ericsson on Aug. 10 in Miami, Taylor is ready to return to the ring in simply weeks. He’ll face Gabriel Silva, son of MMA legend Anderson Silva, in an exhibition match on the 3Arena in Dublin, Eire.
Taylor, 32, sees these alternatives as a quick monitor to high-profile bouts on this rising boxing subculture. Although he’s 3-3 (2 KOs) as a professional boxer and 7-5 in MMA, Taylor now headlines crossover playing cards.
“It is about constructing to massive fights shortly,” Taylor mentioned. “If I beat Gabriel Silva, possibly I will say one thing wild and get a battle along with his dad, Anderson Silva. That is one thing I’d like to entertain subsequent.”
Regardless of his unconventional path, Taylor stays grounded in conventional boxing circles, coaching underneath Kris “Lightning” Lopez, the daddy and coach of blue-chip prospect David Lopez. Taylor brings authenticity to Misfits Boxing playing cards, the place he’s typically seen because the true “boxing man” amid the spectacle of personalities coming from different entities.
Lopez recollects his first encounter with Taylor, who walked into his Oakland, Calif., gymnasium in 2013 sporting a leather-based coat with no shirt.
“I’ve watched that child knock individuals out for no good cause for the final 12 years,” Lopez mentioned. “He got here into my gymnasium 13 years in the past in a leather-based jacket and no shirt on. He knocked out a child named AJ, who was fairly good, after AJ was kicking Anthony’s ass, however then Anthony caught him, froze him—had him out. After that, AJ was by no means the identical.”
Taylor’s path to headlining these playing cards has been something however peculiar. He suffered a split-decision loss in his professional debut to Dante Stubbs (6-6, 1 KO), a extra skilled fighter who later had a journeyman profession, going through opponents like Troy Isley and Javier Martinez.
“That battle was shut—one choose even had Anthony profitable,” Lopez mentioned. “Stubbs had a whole lot of newbie expertise, whereas Anthony had just one newbie battle. He did rather well, simply on uncooked expertise alone.”
Navigating by MMA, professional boxing, and now profitable crossover fights, Taylor has constructed a loyal fanbase and achieved a lot of what he got down to do, albeit in an sudden means.
“I’ve earned sufficient cash to purchase a home,” Taylor mentioned.
Embracing his function his charismatic capacity and having fun with being the villain, Taylor lately defeated ‘Salt Papi’ Nathaniel Bustamante in Might 2023. “I took on the function of the villain,” Taylor mentioned. “In the event that they boo you to the highest of their lungs, meaning I’ve executed my job.”
Wanting forward, Taylor is eyeing a possible conflict with Prime Rank middleweight Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali. “I will break his jaw like Ken Norton did his grandfather,” Taylor declared.
Lopez doesn’t doubt that such a battle might occur, citing Taylor’s capacity to manifest alternatives. “Anthony has a present for making issues occur,” Lopez mentioned. “He obtained Floyd Mayweather occupied with him, possibly even excited about preventing him someday. That in itself is an artwork—understanding easy methods to get somebody’s consideration like that. And Anthony isn’t afraid to step into the highlight, regardless of whose it’s.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and writer of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (obtainable on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
