I won’t take my Thai off the ball
Taylor targets Khongsong win on his way to the top
JOSH TAYLOR insists he won’t let tough Thai Apinun Khongsong block his path to world domination.
The Tartan Tornado is set to defend his WBA and IBF super lightweight crowns at the Hydro on May 2.
Taylor has to make the mandatory defence with top target Jose Ramirez – who holds the other two belts – taking on his former scalp Victor Postol in the US the same month.
The superstar rivals are on a collision course but the Prestonpans puncher is refusing to take Khongsong lightly.
Taylor had the Hydro rocking when he claimed his first world title with a barnstorming win against Ivan Baranchyk last year and the O2 shook when he claimed his second in a fight of the year contender victory against Regis Prograis.
He said: “There are big fights out there but this one is the biggest because I can’t afford to take my eye off the ball.
“I’m treating this fight exactly the same way I did with Baranchyk and Prograis.
“If you don’t it can all go horribly wrong. If I’m not fully focused it could shatter my dreams, or at least set them back. I need to get the job done against this guy.
“I’ve watched a few of his fights. He looks dangerous. He’s tall and rangy and it looks like he carries a bit of power.
“People can say it’s a straightforward fight but he’s unbeaten and could be a handful. I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t handle though. I’ll do my job and get him out of there. It’s business.
“The way I see it, he’s standing in the way of my dreams and I’m not going to let him be there for long.
“It will be brilliant to get back on home soil. It’s the first one for me with a new team and new management, and the first one as unified champion. The Hydro is my home from home and it will be rocking again on May 2.
“Ideally I get this guy out of the way and then go straight for the Ramirez fight. There are a few mandatory defences we might need to get out of the way but it’s a fight that is going to happen.”
Taylor has set up camp on the outskirts of Manchester and is relishing the new regime under coach Ben Davidson. The Scot switched from Barry McGuigan’s set-up at the end of last year and ended his run with the Northern Irish legend’s trainer son Shane.
Davidson has previously been in heavyweight king Tyson Fury’s corner and Taylor said: “It’s hard work but I’m really enjoying it.
“Ben suits my kind of style. I need to get back to doing what I do best, using my feet, speed and boxing skills.
“Ben will help me do that. I’ve seen how he’s worked with Tyson Fury and Billie Joe Saunders, he’s used to working with elite fighters.”
Taylor has signed up with Fury’s management team and promoters so he hopes to follow the Gypsy King and smash America after being blow away by the heavyweight’s epic win against Deontay Wilder last week.
Trainer
Davidson was in Fury’s camp until eight weeks before the fight and the pair remain pals despite the parting of ways. Taylor said: “I know Ben split with big Tyson before his win last week but he still got a lot of the credit for the work he put in to get him back up to that level. “Tyson said a few nice things when I joined up with Top Rank and MTK Global. I’ve only actually bumped into him once before so it will be nice to catch up with him at some point. “I thought it was going to be similar to the first fight as if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. But he was obviously stronger and fitter this time. “He pushed Wilder back and broke his spirit. The American public have really taken tohim and hopefully it won’t be long before I do the same.”