Taylor vows to avoid mistakes by keeping focus on Khongsong

Edinburgh fighter favourite to move a step closer to undisputed bout with Jose Ramirez

Josh Taylor has vowed that he will not make the same mistake as Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte when he locks horns with Apinun Khongsong on Saturday night.

The Edinburgh-born fighter will put his WBA and IBF belts on the line against his unbeaten Thai opponent at the BT Sport studios.

Taylor (16-0-0) is the overwhelming favourite to move one step closer to setting up a mouth-watering undisputed bout against Jose Ramirez.

But the 29-year-old is adamant he will not become complacent after watching heavyweight champion Joshua and Whyte both suffer shock losses to Andy Ruiz and Alexander Povetkin respectively.

Taylor said: “Of course it’s dangerous, it’s a world title fight. It’s his big chance to change his life and become world champion, he will try to take my head off.

“I’ve seen things I think I can expose but it’s very dangerous, it only takes one punch.

“You look at what happened with Povetkin-Whyte, Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz – these upsets happen.

“I believe Anthony Joshua looked over Andy Ruiz and Dillian Whyte was looking over Povetkin and look what happened.

“I’m going to make sure I don’t make that mistake.

“If he does win it is an upset, I’m a massive favourite for this fight but I’m not looking at it, I’m taking it very seriously.

“He’s got power and I need to be very wary and switched on.”

Taylor insists he is also reaping the benefits of working under new trainer Ben Davison after admitting he took too many punches in his world title bouts with Regis Prograis and Ivan Baranchyk.

He added: “At times I was getting lazy with my feet and taking shots I should not be there for. We made it second nature again, I’m still a very offensive fighter and will get at you, that will never leave me but I have been brushing up on the things I have been neglecting.

“In the last two fights I’ve stood and taken punches I really should not have been there for and I could have made it easier for myself.”

It’s his big chance to change his life and become world champion, he will try to take my head off. JOSH TAYLOR

Josh Taylor will have his WBA and IBF belts on the line against his unbeaten Thai opponent.