Josh Taylor can be a role model in and out of the ring, says Barry McGuigan

Scottish Commonwealth Games gold medalist Taylor kept his composure on Wednesday under verbal assault from Clifton Mitchell, the trainer of his opponent in Friday's Commonwealth super-lightweight title fight, Dave Ryan.

Mitchell's attempts to question the credentials of Taylor and his unsubtle predictions for the Edinburgh fight - he claimed Ryan would pull his arms and legs off - momentarily got to McGuigan, who demanded the Derby promoter apologise after the fight, which will be screened live on Channel 5.

That request received short shrift, but Cyclone Promotions boss McGuigan is keen for his fighters to set a good example.

The former world champion told Press Association Sport: "We have to have guys who show the guys coming up how to behave. Because it's not just about being a good boxer, it's about being a role model.

"We set a culture in the gym, they all work very hard, have great fun, and are respectful to our opponents and are good people.

"It's a very dangerous sport, as we saw in the last couple of weeks. There is no need to be a smart Alec, no need to be rude. The world is full of vulgarity, we don't need any more of it. We want all our guys to be humble and Josh is the epitome of that.

"Josh is a super-talented kid, very humble, very professional, and just wait and see what happens on Friday night. Josh Taylor is going to be a superstar, I promise you."

Mitchell's diatribe came less than three weeks after Dundee boxer Mike Towell died following injuries received in a British title eliminator.

McGuigan said: "It's important for us to give a good example because all the guys in the boxing game are good people, it's just idiots like him (Mitchell) who think it's better to be cocky and arrogant. The world is full of arrogance, everyone is sick to death of it.

"Clifton has always been the kind of guy that likes to kick up the dust and create a bit of, as we say in the Irish language, ri ra agus ruaille buaille. Basically a rumpus.

"That's his job. The kid is slightly more reticent but he's a tough kid. He's very strong and he's been Commonwealth champion and WBC International champion.

"Clifton is trying to feel insulted by the fact that they are considering Josh Taylor a possible champion in the future, but it always happens like that, guys do their thing and young guys come along and surpass them.

"That's what is going to happen on Friday night and he doesn't like the thought of that and is therefore trying to rile us.

"It gets me annoyed because I feel passionate about my fighters, so I said, 'Are you going to apologise to me when that doesn't happen?'

"He said he's going to bash Josh's face in, which is bad language in light of what's happened to young Mike Towell. We should try and conduct ourselves in a mannerly fashion.

"The boys were annoyed with me when I got annoyed, but ultimately I am a pretty visceral character. Even though I'm now a manager, I get it in the gut when people say offensive things about my fighters.

"But that's all by the by, it's going to be a great fight. Josh will have the toughest fight of his life, without a doubt, but Josh Taylor will beat him comprehensively in every department, because he is very, very impressive."