Josh Taylor backs Nathaniel Collins to follow in his footsteps as Scots boxing hero endorsed by an icon
Collins takes on Cristobal Llorente for the European featherweight title in Braehead this weekend
Josh Taylor has backed Nathaniel Collins to emulate him and become undisputed world champion.
The Tartan Tornado became only yhe second Scotsman in boxing history after Ken Buchanan to do it, beating Ivan Baranchyk, Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez to claim the undisputed crown.
Now Collins is making the step up to European level when he takes on Cristobal Llorente for his featherweight belt at Braehead on Saturday.
Taylor sees no reason why Collins can't go on to do what he did, and offered the 29-year-old some career advice ahead of topping the bill for this weekend's Next King of Scotland card.
Speaking directly to Collins, Taylor told Queensberry Promotions : "There is no reason why you can't reach levels and become an undisputed champion. If I can do it, there is a chance that anybody can do it.
“You don’t need me to tell you because you live the life, and I’ve seen how you train and how you apply yourself. Even in between fights you’re out doing all of these mad runs around the country running, he is in some shape, you don’t need to worry about him living the life.
“All you need to really do is focus on improving yourself as an athlete, taking yourself away from your home comforts. Maybe take yourself away to America for a few weeks and go about the gyms, get a little bit of sparring, a little bit of coaching with different coaches and pick up bits of experience from different coaches and different fighters.
“You will develop, I think that’s why I developed so well, because I was so well travelled as an amateur, seeing all of these different styles and ways of coming at you. Then, as a pro as well, I had great development by sparring all around the country and going to different countries.
“That is the only bit of advice I could give you. You do everything else great, the only bit of advice that I would say is don’t be afraid to travel and go and experience different parts of the world for more experience, for your benefit.”