The Tartan Tornado, whose world-conquering career came to an abrupt halt in July on medical advice, told how he’d turn to drink to cope.
Josh Taylor fighting in 2024 before his career-ending eye injury(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Boxing legend Josh Taylor has opened up about how his forced retirement from the sport last year left him in a “dark place”. Josh, 35, whose world-conquering career came to an abrupt halt in July over a recurring eye injury, spoke movingly about feeling like his “life’s purpose was over” and how he turned to drink as a crutch.
It comes weeks after the former prizefighter, from Prestonpans, was allegedly involved in a pub brawl in East Lothian on Hogmanay. Josh said: “I was in a bad place mentally when I first retired. I don’t like using the word depression, but I was in a really bad, dark place.
“It was like falling off the edge of a cliff. All of a sudden, just being on my own with nothing to do, everyone else at work, and I felt like my life’s purpose was over and done with.
Josh Taylor posing with his belts in 2022 after becoming undisputed world super lightweight champion(Image: Top Rank via Getty Images)
“It was a tough time mentally trying to adjust… when you’re on your own, it’s very hard to deal with. And a lot of the time for me, for a couple of months beforehand, I was trying to deal with it by having a drink and going out, having a good time.
“But then as the saying goes, what goes up must come down. Once you sober up and after you’ve had the laugh, you’re left feeling the same, maybe even worse.”
He said it was a struggle opening up to people close to him about his mental health. Josh added: “I just held it in. I just felt like I was maybe moaning to people or getting on at people.
“I don’t know if it’s just a manly thing or a sort of bravado sort of thing with guys not feeling how to share their problems. They maybe wait until they’ve had a drink or two and then it all comes out.”
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Dubbed the Tartan Tornado, the Scot became an undisputed world champion after unifying the light welterweight division with a series of stunning wins. The homegrown superstar finished his career with 19 wins and three losses, with 13 wins by knockout.
Speaking on the BBC’s Life After Boxing podcast, Josh said the shocking death of fellow boxer Ricky Hatton, aged 46, in September helped jolt him back to life. Josh said: “It was a big shock for me because Ricky was a childhood hero and I really looked up to him.
“And for that to happen to one of my heroes was a really sobering moment. I actually phoned my dad because I hadn’t really been speaking to my dad since I retired.
“So I was struggling and that kind of sobered me up a little bit. I said, ‘Right, I’m going to have to grab the bull by the horns a little bit and talk about what I’m going through mentally’.”