Josh Taylor: record, next fight and profile →
"I think I put his ribcage through his back,” said Josh Taylor backstage at the York Hall in a sort of half apology, half confession. “I felt it sink in when it landed, although I didn’t expect it to have that effect.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum was watching on ESPN+ on Saturday as unified junior welterweight world titlist Josh Taylor smoked obscure mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong in the first round at the BT studio at York Hall in London.
Taylor, Khongsong Fight Photos Gallery - Josh Taylor made an emphatic statement in his first fight as a unified world champion, defending his WBA and IBF junior welterweight world titles with a first-round stoppage over mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong from BT Studio at York Hall.
London, UK - WBA/IBF junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) crushed previously undefeated mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong (16-1, 13 KOs) in one round. Taylor landed a big shot to the body and Khongsong went down in pain for the full count.
Taylor, Khongsong Scorecard BoxingScene Live - WBA/IBF junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor will make his return to the ring from BT Sport Studio in London against IBF No 1 contender Apinun Khongsong on Saturday, Sept. 26, live on ESPN+ in the United States and BT Sport in the UK. This will be Taylor’s first fight since signing with MTK Global and Top Rank earlier this year.
UNCASVILLE, Connecticut – Sampson Lewkowicz recognizes why Apinun Khongsong is a gargantuan underdog against Josh Taylor. Khongsong’s promoter admits that the Thai contender has never encountered anyone nearly as good as the skillful Scottish southpaw. Lewkowicz knows Khongsong’s power is real, however, and that Taylor’s unbeaten, unknown challenger could benefit from Taylor overlooking him Saturday night at York Hall in London.
It has been nine years since Josh Taylor boxed at York Hall and his memories of one of British boxing’s spiritual homes are not the best. The last time he competed in the famous East London venue was in 2011, when he lost in the final of the GB Championships to Louis Adolphe. He returns on the brink of world stardom.
Taylor, Khongsong Weights Photos Gallery - WBA/IBF junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor will make his return to the ring from BT Sport Studio in London against IBF No 1 contender Apinun Khongsong on Saturday, Sept. 26, live on ESPN+ in the United States and BT Sport in the UK. This will be Taylor’s first fight since signing with MTK Global and Top Rank earlier this year.
Apinun Khongsong feels like he’s been here before—and it only heightens his belief in walking away with the biggest win of his career when all is said and done. The 24-year old junior welterweight from Bangkok enters his first career title fight in similar fashion to arriving on this stage, hitting the road in hopes of pulling off an upset. His latest attempt comes against one of the very best in the sport, unbeaten and unified 140-pound titlist Josh Taylor whom he challenges this Saturday live on ESPN+ from York Hall in Bethnal Green, England.
Josh Taylor is ready to take the next step on the path to crowning an undisputed junior welterweight king. The reigning unbeaten, unified titlist returns to the ring this weekend, where he will face mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong. Both boxers made weight for their ESPN+ headliner, which airs live from York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, England (Saturday, ESPN+, 2:30 p.m. ET).