Known as “The Cannon,” Taylor (13-0, 9 KOs) turned professional relatively late, but racked up a number of eye-catching early knockouts, quickly making himself a fighter to watch. Now 31 years old, the light heavyweight has decided the time is right to strike.

On Saturday night, Taylor’s 10-round fight with Willy Hutchinson will be the chief support to Moses Itauma’s heavyweight clash with Jermaine Franklin. DAZN will stream the event globally from Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.

Hutchinson (19-2, 14 KOs) has a bigger profile, a far deeper amateur background and has boxed higher-caliber professional opposition. Taylor still feels like the inconsistent Scotsman represents the perfect bridge to world level.

“I work hard and I want to step up,” Taylor said during an appearance on DAZN’s “Face-Off” show. “I don’t want to be stagnated. Why would I be here trying to fight people below me or on my on my level? On paper, Willy Hutchinson is higher than me, so why would I not want to fight him?

“Hence why he said on the camera, ‘You need a few more fights before fighting me,’ because – on paper – he’s ahead of me. So, this is amazing for me. It’s an amazing opportunity after I deal with him that I’m solidified on the light heavyweight scene.”

If Hutchinson can blow hot and cold, Taylor has been on a steady upward curve. He was good when beating Troy Jones over 10 rounds last May and better during a one-sided dismantling of Steed Woodall in October.

Aware that this fight presents him with an opportunity to change his life, he has taken himself away to Los Angeles to prepare with his trainer, Malik Scott, and is sure that his natural size and strength will be factors this weekend.

Hutchinson moved up to the light heavyweight division after being shockingly stopped by Lennox Clarke in a British super middleweight title fight back in 2021. Taylor believes that Hutchinson made the move to 175 pounds out of choice rather than necessity.

“You haven’t fought anyone like me,” Taylor said. “Remember, you’re coming into my weight category. I came into this game at light heavyweight. You came in at super middleweight, got a bit lazy. You talk about life, right? Life must have gobbled you up because you said, ‘You know what? I can’t shift these pounds.’

“This is the difference between this guy. I’m a professional, bro. You, you're just going through the motions, whatever you’re getting. Again, I respect and commend you. Life is hard, man. It ain’t easy. But it depends on how you deal with it. You know what I’m saying? It depends on how you deal with it. What you want to deal with. What you want to get from boxing.”