Thai opponent next for Taylor

Josh Taylor’s next fight will be against Apinun Khongsong of Thailand.

The Scottish world champion will put his WBA and IBF super-lightweight titles on the line against Khongsong, who is the mandatory challenger.

Taylor, 29, hopes that the fight against Khongsong will take place in Scotland. If he wins he will then look to take on either Jose Ramirez – who holds the WBC and WBO belts – or Viktor Postol to unify the division.

Ramirez and Postol are due to fight each other on in China on 1 February.

Josh Taylor has revealed that his next fight will be a mandatory defence of his world titles against Apinun Khongsong.

The Prestonpans puncher will put his WBA and IBF super-lightweight crowns on the line whe he faces the Thai. Taylor, 29, hopes that the fight against Khongsong will take place in Scotland before he goes on to fight either Jose Ramirez – who holds the WBC and WBO belts – or Viktor Postol to unify the division. Ramirez and Postol are due to fight on 1 February.

“Ramirez has got the mandatory against Postol, I’ve got the mandatory against the guy from Thailand,” said Taylor, who last week signed a multi-fight deal with US promoter Top Rank.

“I need to get that out of the way and he needs to get Postol out of the way. Even if Postol comes through that, that’s the fight I want because he’ll have the two other belts.

“That fight has to happen at some point this year. That’s my goal, my focus this year – becoming undisputed king, the first [Scottish] guy to do it since Ken Buchanan.

“I’m hoping I’ll have a defence in Scotland before I then go stateside.”

Both Taylor and Khongsong have 16-0 records in the paid ranks, although the 23-year-old Thai has only fought outside his homeland once.

Taylor became IBF and WBA champion with a win over Regis Prograis in October and defeated Postol on his way to his current titles.