Taylor’s silent title test

JOSh TAYLOR, arguably the best boxer in Britain, has to defend his unified world light-welterweight titles tomorrow night in an echoing York hall empty of fans.

One consolation for the lack of atmosphere is that he loses nothing by way of home advantage by travelling from Scotland to east London, since Covid-19 would have prohibited a crowd wherever he fought.

More importantly, his incentive for defeating his mandatory challenger, Apinun Khongsong, is expected to be a major fight next year for the undisputed world title against WBC and WBO champion Jose Ramirez.

Taylor’s American promoter Bob Arum confirmed: ‘That is the aim for Josh and we would hope to be open for his army of Scottish fans, whether that fight takes place in Edinburgh or Las Vegas.’

This weekend’s defence of his IBF and WBA belts had already been postponed from spring. now the Government has cancelled even pilot events with a sprinkling of spectators, it is just as well that he is getting on with his career, in cloistered surroundings but live on BT Sport. Taylor ( below) said: ‘ We’ve prepared for this by sparring in my new gym at home in Scotland with no noise, no shouting. So it will not seem all that strange. ‘I’m taking this fight seriously. And although Khongsong seems like a nice guy there will be no friendship in the ring. Just spite.’ Former world flyweight champion Charlie Edwards tops the undercard in Bethnal Green in a first fight at bantamweight, against Kyle Williams. Edwards said: ‘ I’m so relieved to put behind me the horrific, crucifying self-abuse it took for me to make flyweight.’

• Taylor v Khongsong and Edwards v Williams are live tomorrow night on BT Sport 1.