EZRA TAYLOR WELCOMING CHANGE AS FAMILIAR FACE STEED WOODALL STEPS INTO THE BREACH
Ezra Taylor has a new opponent and there is no British title on the line this weekend, but his task remains the same: Win in style.
He first heard news of Lewis Edmondson's hip injury last Thursday. Four days later it was announced that super middleweight contender Steed Woodall answered the short-notice call to face him.
Taylor-Woodall will feature prominently on the televised main card preceding Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley at London's O2 Arena on Saturday night, live exclusively on DAZN PPV.
Woodall (20-3-1, 12 KOs) parlayed an impressive sixth-round stoppage win over then-unbeaten Lerrone Richards last June into a shot at Callum Simpson's British title to kickstart 2025 in January.
Simpson's volume punching sent Woodall into survival mode early in round two and a highlight reel finish felt increasingly inevitable before referee Mark Bates had seen enough, waving it a touch prematurely.
While the 11-year pro returned with victory on a local show at a Staffordshire conference centre last month, he was preparing for an eight-man GBM Sports-led super middleweight tournament on Nov. 8.
Many aren't giving Woodall much of a chance against Taylor, who is heavy-handed and the naturally bigger man.
Taylor preferred to reminisce more positively rather than wonder aloud what version of the Birmingham native he'd be facing.
"Steed's from Birmingham, and I support him. That's my guy, right there. I was so happy for him when he beat Lerrone last year," he told The Ring after Wednesday's media workout.
"He's got a sick carpentry business. If you ever need your floors done in the west Midlands, he's the man. Look, he's a decent fighter, and that's all that matters. I don't look at my opponents, my team does the gameplanning. I just adapt and deal with things accordingly.
"I was thinking about Edmondson before, but that was months ago. The closer it gets to a fight, my mind doesn't focus on specific opponents, it's on what I can do better. I've worked hard and prepared, whether my opponent changes or not. Now it's time to enjoy."
Taylor-Edmondson was originally expected to be on the Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois II undercard on July 19 at London's Wembley Stadium. However, the British champion fought unbeaten contender Daniel Lapin (12-0, 4 KOs) instead.
The awkward southpaw did enough to eke out a 10-round majority decision win, spoiling Edmondson's unblemished record, and the Southampton man was later ordered to defend his Lonsdale belt against Taylor.
Taylor (12-0, 8 KOs) produced a career-best points win over former English champion Troy Jones (13-1, 6 KOs) in May and feels the additional time between fight dates has proven a blessing.
"I'm attached to the British title as mandatory challenger," he said. "We can get it in December or February, whenever Lewis is ready. If not, a vacant title fight is fine, too. I've trained way too hard, sacrificed too much to wait around. I need to go through the steps, show improvements, and I'll be a world champion. Just got to go through the motions and keep getting better."
That five-month block allowed more individual time with head trainer Malik Scott after a successful month-long camp before his Nottingham win, and he's benefited from life training in Los Angeles.
"I don't really stop training, just go back-and-forth from L.A. to the UK. Been out there more than home to keep on top of my training. I've got a great team, great people to spar and be around. California is like the hub of boxing.
"I sparred at the Wildcard Gym, but Brickhouse is my main home. There are so many people to rub shoulders with, mixing it with many different styles, world-level contenders and champions. You're not in your comfort zone, but that only makes you better."
He talks eagerly about sparring former WBC light heavyweight beltholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk (21-2, 17 KOs) and multiple unbeaten prospects, under-the-radar fighters ranked within the world's top 15 across several divisions. How could you not sharpen your skills in that environment?
At the time, he graded his performance against Jones a seven or eight out of 10. Now, though, it's a very different stance.
"I wasn't very happy that night," he said. "Knowing what I do now and the boxer I've become, I'd give it a four out of 10. I really believe I'm a future world champion and have expectations of myself. Discipline is one, not being lazy or complacent, switching off.
"There were a couple times I did during that fight but just haven't got time to dwell on wins, I'm trying to get better, and that's all I care about. The things I could've done better, I will do. You'll see a much improved fighter. Can't wait to show everyone."
