2018 World Champion at 86kg David Taylor has announced that he will make his comeback to international wrestling fold via Pan American Olympic Qualifier. Taylor who is out of the competitions since part 8 months could not defend his world championship title in Nur-Sultan in 2019. The Pan American Olympic Qualifier are scheduled in Ottawa, Canada, this March.
Taylor announced the news on his Instagram page on Tuesday.
Taylor injured his knee last May that and has stayed away from the competitive wrestling since then. Taylor won the world championship title in 2018 at 86kg, was coming off an undefeated 2018 season, which culminated in gold-medal performances at the World Championships, Pan-American Championships, Ivan Yariguin and Yasar Dogu. But in May 2019, Taylor was dealt an unfortunate setback on his road to defending his world title.
It was at the Beat the Streets match against his team-mate Drew FOSTER where Taylor went down 31 seconds into the match with an apparent right knee injury. In the opening sequence of the bout, Foster got to a low-level shot to the right leg of Taylor and came up through the middle. Foster peaked out the back door and isolated the right leg of Taylor. Foster, who was posted on his right hand, threw his left hip to the mat, which is when Taylor stopped wrestling and immediately grabbed his right knee. The reigning world champion tried to continue, but his right knee buckled the first time he put his body weight on it, and ultimately forced him to injury default out of the match.