Josh Taylor vacated WBA light-welterweight title because of summer wedding

Josh Taylor vacated the WBA light-welterweight title after telling the authorities an upcoming wedding meant he could not defend the belt.

The WBA announced the Scot had been stripped of the crown - one of four belts he held - after failing to agree to fight Alberto Puello.

But Taylor, 31, said he had written a letter explaining his decision.

"I do not want to delay a fellow fighter from fulfilling his dreams. For that reason, I must vacate," he wrote.

The WBA had ordered Taylor to make a mandatory defence against Dominican Puello, who is unbeaten in 20 fights.

But the Scot told WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza: "Unfortunately, due to my wedding and honeymoon this summer I am unable to fulfil my obligation to defend against Alberto Puello in a timely manner."

Taylor won the belt against Regis Progais in 2019 and defended it most recently with a controversial points success over Jack Catterall in February.

"The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee, in accordance with the organisation's rules, has decided that the Super Lightweight title, which was held by the Scottish Josh Taylor, is vacant," said a WBA statement last week.

Taylor, who is unbeaten in 19 fights, still holds the IBF, WBO and WBC belts, but has hinted he may step up in weight to 147lbs.

After beating England's Catterall, he said it was likely to be his last bout at that weight.

The Scot triumphed at a raucous OVO Hydro in Glasgow, despite most observers believing his opponent had claimed a stunning upset.

Two judges scored in favour of Taylor, who was floored in the eighth round, in a verdict met with widespread disbelief and described as "disgusting" by the Catterall camp.

"It's probably my last fight at 140, to be honest, but we'll see how it goes," Taylor told the BBC. "Anybody, anybody in the world - 147, 140, I'll fight anybody."