Taylor had unified the light-welterweight division by the age of 30 – the first Briton to do so in the four-belt era – but then had to call it a day due to an eye injury.

It has been a challenging eight months for the former Commonwealth Games champion, who felt there was more that could be done to help boxers, including himself, after they step away from the ring.

The idea was raised at the British Boxing Board of Control’s (BBBofC) annual awards ceremony on Sunday.

Thanks to the @BBBofCuk for the recognition award on my career at the weekend. Big thank you to everyone involved in my career. You all played a huge part in my journey.
It’s always a great pleasure being amongst such great people, legends of the game both past & present. pic.twitter.com/HS8mRhBnVn

— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) March 11, 2026

Speaking on Monday, Taylor described the move as “a good concept” and, given his own experience of retirement, was keen for it to be taken forward.

He said: “There were discussions last night about fighters maybe after their careers or during their careers setting up an organisation, a trust, a group or even a phoneline where they pick up the phone and speak to people.

“Hopefully, something like that does happen.

“I think there are quite a lot, especially in boxing, quite a lot of boxers and ex-boxers, it is a common occurrence where people after they have retired from the sport or whatever other reason, come into difficulty with mental health or financial troubles and things like that.

“There was talk last night and looking to get a group on the go so I think that is a move in the right direction to help fighters and athletes with problems out of the ring.

“It would just now need courage from fighters to actually pick up the phone and reach out.”

Taylor, who grew up in Prestonpans and now lives in Haddington, was among those at the awards ceremony in London.

Josh Taylor enjoyed a successful career in the ring. Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

There, he was presented with the BBBofC Special Recognition Award.

Taylor claimed gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before turning professional.

Victories in his first 14 bouts – 11 by knockout – saw him fight Ivan Baranchyk for the IBF light-welterweight title in Glasgow in May 2019.

Crowned a world champion in front of thousands of his countrymen, he would go on to claim the WBA (Super) and The Ring light-welterweight belts against Regis Prograis later in the year.

And he unified the division with a commanding victory over Jose Carlos Ramirez in Las Vegas in 2021.

Josh Taylor has started to look at life after boxing (Image: East Lothian Council)

A montage of Taylor’s greatest hits was played during the awards ceremony, which took place at The Brewery on London’s Chiswell Street.

He said: “It was nice.

“It was a pleasant surprise because I did not know I was going to be receiving an award.

“I have gone to it pretty much every year since 2014.

“I did not know I was going to get an award as such.

“I thought I was going to get a mention about my career but did not know I was going to get an award; it was a nice surprise.”

Thirty-five-year-old Taylor spent 20 years dedicated to the sport having originally trained in taekwondo.

Thanks to the @BBBofCuk for the recognition award on my career last night. It’s always a pleasure being amongst such great people. pic.twitter.com/TRtauy0mH6

— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) March 9, 2026

He told Courier Sport about the discipline needed to reach the very top and the challenges retirement had brought.

He said: “My whole life was disciplined and routine.

“For it all of a sudden come to a crashing halt was just kind of like just a whole new experience for me of not knowing what I was going to do.”

Taylor described how he had been “feeling really low” since retirement and that stepping away from the ring had been “a shock to the system”.

He said: “I was kind of a bit gutted that it was taken out of my hands, really.

“I, probably, could have continued but it was a risk I was not willing to take.

“I was playing with my eyesight.

“I had three operations and laser eye surgery – I had four procedures – and I was not willing to play roulette with something as precious as my eyes.”