Taylor back in the ring next month in London

Josh Taylor’s mandatory defence of his WBA and IBF light-superweight belts against Apinun Khongsong has been rescheduled for next month.

The Prestonpans puncher was due to take on his Thai opponent in Glasgow back in May, but that fight was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Taylor will now face Khongsong behind closed doors at the BT Sport Studio in Stratford, London, on Saturday, 26 September, with the fight being broadcast live on BT Sport and ESPN. An undercard will be confirmed in due course.

It will be the first time Taylor has stepped into the ring competitively since defeating Regis Prograis in November last year to win the World Boxing Super Series and his world title.

Both men are undefeated in the paid ranks [16-0], although 29-year-old Taylor is the warm favourite to defeat Khongsong, 24, in what will be the Scot’s first fight under the MTK Global and Top Rank banner, and with new trainer Ben Davison.

Victory for Taylor would take him one step closer to a highly anticipated unification bout against American Jose Ramirez.

Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren said: “Joshisaworldclassoperator and I am delighted that we are playing host to what is an important mandatory defence.

“Josh is doubtless set for many big nights over in the States but he has got business to attend to here first and we are backing him to win, not least because a huge fight with our own Jack Catterall is there to be made a little further down the line.

“We have successfully played our part in bringing boxing back for the fans on TV and I said all along that we would be upping the levels as we go along and that is what we are doing here. I am thrilled we have secured Josh to perform on the BT Sport platform.”

Bob Arum of Top Rank added: “Josh Taylor is on a collision course to a fight for the undisputed title, but he must first get past a very tough Thai fighter in Khongsong.”