Brooklyn amateur Pryce Taylor (1-0, 1 KO) had an auspicious professional debut this past Friday evening, stopping Mike Diorio in the opening round, on the undercard of a Prime Time Promotions card at Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York.
The 6’ 4”, 265-pound Taylor was a decorated U.S. amateur boxer, highlighted by his two New York Golden Gloves Champion titles, along with four runner-up performances in USA National Championships, including one to Joshua Edwards, who just qualified to represent as a super heavyweight for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Taylor dropped Diorio twice with lethal body shots, after which his corner threw in the towel at the 2:40 mark of round one.
“It was the best feeling in the world to have the whole place filled with my supporters,” Taylor said after the fight. “I was able to show off my boxing skills in front of everyone.”
Taylor’s manager, New York City-based lawyer, Keith Sullivan, already had the 27-year-old Taylor’s second pro fight scheduled in advance, December 16th against Christopher Arnold (5-3, 5 KOs) in a four-round bout on a show, promoted by Boxing Insider Promotions, at Sony Hall in New York City’s Times Square.
“A was a great debut win for Pryce,” Sullivan commented. “He widely focused on technique, not power, and was mindful of not expending too much energy by getting caught up in the moment. He really stayed focused before and during the fight. I’m very proud of how he handled himself.
“It’s important to get that first pro win out of the way. It’s a big leap from the amateurs that not many are capable of making. As an amateur, Pryce was rated as the sixth-best heavyweight in America, and in the top 10-pecent in the world. The skills and hunger are clearly there. He’s still developing, but we’ll guide his career to the top of the division in due time.”