Josh Taylor's split from Cyclone Promotions was "a huge surprise and a killer blow", says the Scottish boxer's former trainer Shane McGuigan.
IBF and WBA super-lightweight champion Taylor, who had been with Cyclone since turning professional in 2015, signed with US outfit Top Rank this month.
Shane, son of Cyclone head Barry McGuigan, will no longer train the 29-year-old and says his exit rankles.
"I feel a bit begrudged by it all," he told Boxing Social.
"It was late December and I got a phone call saying Josh was asking to leave. It was a pretty big shock. I didn't see anything coming.
"As soon as I heard that, my heart sank. Mainly because of the effort and time that we had put in to Josh. I felt we had managed him and trained him impeccably - 16 fights unbeaten, unified world champion, Ring magazine champion.
"To find out like that was a blow. I'm annoyed that I've invested four-and-a-half years of my time and energy in someone who just doesn't deserve it."
Taylor's departure has soured relations with the stable where he made his name.
Cyclone insisted he had broken an "exclusive worldwide contract" with them, while the Prestonpans fighter responded by claiming the company's "various breaches of contract" enabled him to walk away for a multi-fight deal with Top Rank.
In the ring, their partnership culminated with Taylor's World Super Series final triumph over Regis Prograis in October, making him the unified IBF and WBA super-lightweight champion.
"We were in regular talks with JT about a multi-fight deal with Matchroom USA and DAZN and Sky," McGuigan added. "We were constructing something really big for him. Obviously he chose to do his own thing.
"If he'd been a year into his career, fine, no problem. And if he'd have called me and talked to me and everyone and done it the right way, then that would have been fine.
"I train fighters that aren't necessarily managed by my dad. But with Josh, dad had signed him from the start and has done an amazing job with him.
"It's not right to do it that way. I'm not going to continue to train him when he has done that to somebody so close to me. I just feel it's not fair for that person to be cut out."
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 14:44
by Ruthless-RKO
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 14:45
by Ruthless-RKO
Okay, forget Barry and Cyclone, the management side blah blah. I actually feel for Shane, because he probably spent the most time with Josh and all the hard work they put in together.
Anyone know if Josh Taylor has hired a new trainer yet?
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 14:52
by margaret thatcher
I can see why you'd feel for him, but that would have to be pretty awkward training with Shane given the promotional situation?
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:03
by Ruthless-RKO
margaret thatcher wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 14:52
I can see why you'd feel for him, but that would have to be pretty awkward training with Shane given the promotional situation?
I understand that too.. If you're gonna leave Cyclone, you might as well leave Shane. Kinda package deal.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:08
by Stuarty
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 14:45
Okay, forget Barry and Cyclone, the management side blah blah. I actually feel for Shane, because he probably spent the most time with Josh and all the hard work they put in together.
Anyone know if Josh Taylor has hired a new trainer yet?
Not yet mate. Hearing he's hoping to link up with Roach.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:12
by Steveh583
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 14:45
Okay, forget Barry and Cyclone, the management side blah blah. I actually feel for Shane, because he probably spent the most time with Josh and all the hard work they put in together.
Anyone know if Josh Taylor has hired a new trainer yet?
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 14:45
Okay, forget Barry and Cyclone, the management side blah blah. I actually feel for Shane, because he probably spent the most time with Josh and all the hard work they put in together.
Anyone know if Josh Taylor has hired a new trainer yet?
They don't do it out of charity
Obviously not. But everyone seemed to think they were a good fit. Hardly anyone stays with the same trainer for life.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:31
by Ruthless-RKO
Anthony Fowler has now linked up with Shane..
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:38
by samwbr
I'm a big fan of Taylor's but not being man enough to call it a day with your trainer face to face is very poor form, particularly after a fight like they just won.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 15:41
by bripez
I don’t know the score on the money side, but as far as the training and promoting, right fights at the right time etc they did a great job
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 16:14
by paddy chavez
Shane would be gutted he placed a lot time in to Taylor and he's been managed very well not over protected he was put into the big fights at the right time. .
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 16:15
by rio
If your trained promoted and managed by one entity your doing your self a disservice. Your clearly not maximising your earnings. A huge conflict of interest. I'm sure once he seen what happened to Frampton he was just biding his time. Top Rank is definitely the best place for him.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 18:24
by coneye
I know has a coach in the past , I've took lads on , when they were kids , worked with them , been like a father to them , spent probably more quality time with them than i did my own kids , remember some would have no money for fee's , so you would'nt charge them , you would buy there food on the journey across country , to do 8 hrs travelling so they could have a 3 rnd fight ,, watch them develop , and occasionally you would watch one bloom into a ameteur champion ,, , Then feel a kick in the teeth , when some smooth talking prick , got into the fathers or the boys ear , and he would leave , to go with someone else , because they smelt dollars in the pro game ,, it used to bother me , and it bothers all trainers , it happens and it happens often .
BUT theres a difference with Shane , he has no right to cry ,, he did'nt take Josh from a kid , he inherited him , because his dad signed him , he may well off put 4 years into him , but the guy was already a good fighter ,, matchmaking played an important part , and too be honest they done a good job ,,, ,,,,,, BUT ,,,,,,, They were payed and i would presume WELL PAID ,, to do the job , Once they start taking on other peoples work , and getting paid , well all rights to be agreived go out the window ITS a buisness to them ,, If Josh was to have lost all his fights they would get rid of him,,, Its like becoming an apprentice bricklayer , and your boss getting the shits , cos you move on after you finish your apprentaship , , it was buisness , you worked cheap for 4 years and he taught you a profesion and gauranteed you a job for 4 years , buisness get over it .
Thats not too say , i don't feel a bit for Shane cos you do put your heart and soul into it , UNTIL you get older and relize whats what and its not gonna change . But he did'nt spend 10 years with Josh not getting paid , thats the guy who should be aggreived not Shane .
Now if Shane had brought him up from a 10 year old to a world champ it would be a different story ,
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 19:53
by TheGman
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 15:31
Anthony Fowler has now linked up with Shane..
Bet shane is happy with that trade,Taylor for Fowler hahaha
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 20:08
by JamieM
Nobody should be trained, managed and promoted by the same people. Total conflict of interest to maximise their own earnings.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 23 Jan 2020, 20:12
by bripez
JamieM wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 20:08
Nobody should be trained, managed and promoted by the same people. Total conflict of interest to maximise their own earnings.
I don’t disagree - but Taylor was a man with options when he decided of his own free will to sign for them
It’s not like they were the only ones willing to take him on and it was either accept their shit deal or have no deal
He has also benefitted from the deal.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 24 Jan 2020, 06:42
by dbf
Taylor been seen on the pads with Ben Davison in Dubai - must just be that Taylor is on holiday out there or perhaps a link up as Taylor now with MTK.
I would have thought a good move for Taylor would have been Booth, Ingle or even Freddie Roach (!) - Paquiao was/is his hero, Roach knows how to train and agressive Southpaw at that weight etc.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 24 Jan 2020, 06:53
by Nightmare Roy
JamieM wrote: ↑23 Jan 2020, 20:08
Nobody should be trained, managed and promoted by the same people. Total conflict of interest to maximise their own earnings.
Bet shane is happy with that trade,Taylor for Fowler hahaha
Well, travelling to Rotherham from Liverpool was getting to Fowler so now it’s only London he should be fine.
Ye Fowler will be happy but im talking about Shane,bet he is happy with the swap lose Taylor and gain Fowler haha Shane got the sh1tty end of the deal here.
Well, travelling to Rotherham from Liverpool was getting to Fowler so now it’s only London he should be fine.
Quicker on the train to London than Rotherham from Liverpool.
[/quote
It’s Kent, so I would imagine you would have to commute into London first.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 24 Jan 2020, 09:14
by samwbr
Oh aye, Canterbury now innit. Still trans pennine service is so shit he might still do it.
Re: Shane McGuigan on Josh Taylor Exit
Posted: 24 Jan 2020, 09:17
by Stuarty
dbf wrote: ↑24 Jan 2020, 06:42
Taylor been seen on the pads with Ben Davison in Dubai - must just be that Taylor is on holiday out there or perhaps a link up as Taylor now with MTK.
I would have thought a good move for Taylor would have been Booth, Ingle or even Freddie Roach (!) - Paquiao was/is his hero, Roach knows how to train and agressive Southpaw at that weight etc.
Think he was just working out while on holiday. Apparently he wants to work with Roach. I'd like to see him work with someone a bit more defensive minded tbh. He's not hard to catch and takes a lot of unnecessary shots at times.
