Josh Taylor’s debut with Top Rank will obviously come later than previously anticipated, although he has vowed to be ready for whenever that moment ultimately arrives.
“I have the mindset where the phone could go at any time,” the unified 140-pound titlist insisted during a recent interview with Sky Sports. “So, I am keeping myself fit and in good shape.”
Taylor (16-0, 12KOs) was due to face Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13KOs) in an International Boxing Federation (IBF)-mandated title defense on May 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. The show—much like every other major sporting and entertainment event—was shut down in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
A new date for the card has yet to be established due to the uncertainty of when mass gatherings will once again be permitted. The United Kingdom has been under stay-at-home order since March 23, with the lockdown extended through at least May 7 before even considering a relaxed restriction policy which would potentially allow schools and small business to reopen.
Whenever boxing as a whole can resume, Taylor will still be on the hook to face Khongsong. The 29-year old southpaw from Edinburg, Scotland inherited the IBF mandatory following a competitive but clear unanimous decision win over then-unbeaten titlist Ivan Baranchyk in the semifinal round of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) 140-pound tournament. Taylor went on to run the tables, edging then-unbeaten Regis Prograis in the tournament finale along with collecting the World Boxing Association (WBA) title in the process.
Soon thereafter came his signing with Top Rank, along with the order to face the unbeaten Thai challenger. Taylor remains focused on that task, for which he had already begun training before being told to pare down in the wake of the fight postponement.
It hasn’t at all prevented him from remaining fighting fit.
“[I]f I get the phone call to say when the fight is going to be… it might be only six or eight weeks then it’s not too bad. I’m fit anyway. All I need to do is cram my sparring in and get sharp, because I’ve not had any sparring obviously.
“Apart from that I’m actually in good, physical shape. So, I’m not too worried.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox