Showy Taylor calls time on his career

Showy Taylor…always came to fight

REISS “Showy” Taylor – Britain’s shortest pro at under five foot – has retired from the game.

The Birmingham bantam bows out after 25 bouts and was last in action on March 23 when outpointed over four rounds by Ryan Carlin in Glasgow.

Showy – one of the games larger than life characters (no pun intended) – won only three, but always came to fight, always gave value for money.

And there were some real humdingers in the career of a fighter who entered the paid ranks at Birmingham’s Eastside gym, then swapped to Black Country Boxing.

He began his journey with a war against Quasie Khademi who went on to fight for British and European honours.

His second outing, a points win over Anwar Alfadli, was equally gripping.

Showy, aged 32, was a man who took his show on the road and fought in his home city only twice.

He told me today: “Not many people turn over in their twenties with no amateur bouts. I only had 12 amateur fights.

“I’m content. I did it, although my family probably thought I couldn’t do anything with it.”

Reiss will not be lost to the sport. He’s got a job mentoring and providing boxing training to troubled youngsters.

On facebook, he posted: “New ventures incoming, so it is now time to hang up the gloves, retire and give back to people what I have learnt.

“These past 12 years have been fun! Thank you to everybody who supported, be it from afar or close proximity, along with my coaches at Aston amateur boxing club, professional club BCB and manager Errol Johnson looking after me, keeping me busy. I promised my mum and dad I would hang them up this year and I think I've raised their blood pressure high enough.”

I wish Showy, a thoroughly nice individual, all the best in his new career.