COUNTY star Josh Taylor was “proud as punch” as he was named the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) Boxer of the Year.

Prestonpans ace Taylor beat the likes of world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and former world super-middleweight champion George Groves to the title.

The 27-year-old picked up the award, accompanied by his long-term girlfriend Danielle Murphy, also from Prestonpans, in London on Saturday evening.

And on social media, Taylor said he was “proud as punch”.

Meanwhile for Danielle, seeing her boyfriend collect the award was part of a double celebration, the awards falling on her 26th birthday.

She said she was “so proud” of Taylor, adding: “It just shows that hard work and dedication pays off.”

The ‘Tartan Tornado’ recorded the biggest win of his 13-bout professional career when he beat Ukrainian former world champion Viktor Postol in Glasgow in June.

That bout was also in the running for Contest of the Year, but that category was won by the British middleweight championship fight between Tommy Langford and Jason Welborn.

Taylor’s coach Shane McGuigan also missed out on the Trainer of the Year prize, which went to Jamie Moore.

Undefeated Taylor is currently in training for a World Boxing Super Series quarter-final with American Ryan Martin at the SSE Hydro on November 3.

Should he prevail, the ‘Tartan Tornado’ would be just two wins away from becoming world champion.