Scottish Daily Mail

A bunch of fives! Watch out, Josh can certainly pack a punch...

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JOSH TAYLOR will seek to move one step closer to his dream showdown with Jose Ramirez when he defends his WBA and IBF titles against undefeated Thai Apinun Khongsong in London’s York Hall tonight. Here, BLAIR CONDIE takes a look at five of the Scot’s top fights on the path to glory.

TAYLOR v OHARA DAVIES

JULY 2017, BRAEHEAD ARENA

Taylor put his Commonweal­th title on the line but the result was never in danger as he dropped Davies in the third then twice in the seventh before the referee stopped the fight.

TAYLOR v MIGUEL VAZQUEZ

NOVEMBER 2017, ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE

The Mexican caused Taylor problems early on but he took control in the latter stages, downing his opponent in the ninth. Unable to beat the count,

Vazquez was dealt his first-ever stoppage loss.

TAYLOR v VIKTOR POSTOL

JUNE 2018, SSE HYDRO

Taylor was pushed to his limits by the Ukrainian but, after surviving a seventh-round scare, he felled his opponent in the tenth on his way to a unanimous points-decision victory.

TAYLOR v IVAN BARANCHYK

MAY 2019, SSE HYDRO

After downing Baranchyk twice in the sixth round, Taylor outboxed the Belarusian to claim the IBF world superlight­weight title.

TAYLOR v REGIS PROGRAIS

OCTOBER 2019, O2 ARENA

Taylor had to be at his best to win this epic via a split decision. Undeterred by one eye swollen shut as the American tired, he landed big blows in the tenth and 11th to seal the win and the WBA super-lightweigh­t crown.

 ??  ?? He’s Scot the lot: Josh Taylor’s rise over the last three years has been startling with wins over Prograis (main) plus (inset, clockwise) Postol, Vazquez, Baranchyk and Davies
He’s Scot the lot: Josh Taylor’s rise over the last three years has been startling with wins over Prograis (main) plus (inset, clockwise) Postol, Vazquez, Baranchyk and Davies
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