All the details you need to watch the Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong world title fight
'The Tartan Tornado' vs 'Downua Ruawaiking'
BBN have provided viewers with all the details needed to tune in to watch two unbeaten super-lightweights, Josh Taylor (16-0, 12KOs) and Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13KOs), clash in a unified world title fight on the same day in history that David Haye was knocked down for the first time in his professional career against Lolenga Mock in the second round of their six-round fight in 2003, but the 6-0 ‘Hayemaker’ rallied back to score a fourth-round stoppage to set up an English title shot next.
Date
The bout takes place on Saturday, September 26.
Venue
It takes place behind closed doors at the 'Home of Boxing' York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on a Queensberry Promotions event.
Rounds scheduled
12 three-minute rounds at the super-lightweight limit – 140lbs.
Titles
Taylor’s WBA ‘Super’ and IBF World super-lightweight titles are on the line, plus The Ring Magazine belt.
Ringwalks
The ring walks are expected from 10pm UK time but that will depend on the undercard results.
TV Coverage
Coverage will start at 7:30pm, live and exclusive on BT Sport 1.
Live Stream
You can find out what happens via sport.bt.com or by downloading the mobile app, or follow @frankwarren_tv on Twitter for event updates.
Undercard Highlights
Former world champion Charlie Edwards (15-1, 6KOs) is back in action for the first time in a year since giving up his WBC World flyweight title to move up to bantamweight.
The 27-year-old from Croydon battles with former English champ Kyle Williams (11-2, 3KOs) over 10-rounds in his first fight as a Queensberry Promotions member since departing Matchroom Boxing.
Related Articles
Everything you ever need to know about Taylor-Khongsong can be found HERE
Quotes
Frank Warren: “Josh is a world class operator and I am delighted that we are playing host to what is an important mandatory defence. Josh is doubtless set for many big nights over in the States but he has got business to attend to here first and we are backing him to win, not least because a huge fight with our own Jack Catterall is there to be made a little further down the line.”
Bob Arum: “Josh Taylor is on a collision course to a fight for the undisputed title, but he must first get past a very tough Thai fighter in Khongsong. We are delighted that Josh’s talents will be shown live to ESPN+ and BT Sport viewers, and I expect a spectacular performance come September 26.”
Apinun Khongsong: “I am happy to fight here and being behind closed doors is good for me because there will be no people and boxing fans. I am very proud to fight Josh Taylor because he is a very good champion. I have prepared very well to fight him on Saturday. The plan is to stop Josh Taylor by knockout.”
Josh Taylor: “You will see on Saturday what changes I have made working with Ben [Davison] and I am not going to give away what we have been working on. Khongsong is standing in the way of where I want to go so I need to get rid of him. This is his introduction to world boxing and I am going to make it a painful one for him. He doesn't belong at this level and I am a couple of levels above him. I am going to go in there and knock him out on Saturday. He will have my full attention and I must make sure I am switched on because if I don’t get this job done then my dreams and ambitions are shattered.”
Final press conference quotes HERE
Predictions
BBN Editor, Tim Rickson: “24-year-old Thai boxer Khongsong comes into the fight with an impressive record but it only looks good on paper. He has only ever won the regional IBF Pan Pacific super-lightweight title during his career. Three successful defences of that has earned him the No.1 mandatory spot with the IBF, but he isn’t ranked with any other organisation. However, he looks good in his fights; he's tall, jabs well, is clearly schooled in his art and has a good shape and discipline, plus he carries power, but he has never fought anywhere near world level before and he is up against the very best in Taylor, who should really take him apart.
It’s hard to tell how Khongsong will fair at this highest level, having never been there before, so I hope to surprised by him, I'd expect him to giv a good account of himself and be lively and competitive for the first few rounds, but I personally believe Taylor gets into his rythym at around three or four rounds in, then ups the tempo to win this fight handily via stoppage before the championship rounds.”
Full preview HERE and predictions HERE
Background
Scotsman Taylor and Thai Khongsong were originally slated to fight on May 2 in Glasgow but the fight was cancelled due to the ban of sporting events and public gatherings during lockdown. Fortunately, the event has been resheduled and the pair will finally lock horns three months later than first planned.
Defending champion Josh Taylor is currently rated as the world's best super-lightweight having won two world titles, the World Boxing Super Series, and currently holding the coveted Ring Magazine belt.
Challenger Khonsong, known as 'Downua Ruawaiking', managed to gain the IBF mandatory shot by winning the IBF Pan Pacific super-lightweight title and defending it successfully three times. He has only fought outside of his native Thailand once, when he went to Japan and scored an impressive fifth-round KO over a world title contender. It's reported he had over 100 amateur bouts and was on the national boxing team aged 17. Find out all about Khongsong HERE. He has an 81% KO ratio and Taylor's is slightly lower at 75%, and both fighters have revealed they are going for the KO, so it's set to be an electric contest!
Betting Odds Supplied by 888Sport
1/20 Josh Taylor
16/1 Apinun Khongsong
40/1 Draw
Running Order
Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong
12×3 WBA Super, IBF & Ring Magazine super-lightweight titles
Charlie Edwards vs Kyle Williams
10×3 IBF European middleweight title
David Oliver Joyce vs Ionut Baluta
10×3 WBO European super-bantamweight title
George Davey vs Jeff Thomas
4×3 Super-welterweight contest
Eithan James vs Kris Pilkington
4×3 Super-lightweight contest
Jordan Flynn vs Jamie Quinn
4×3 Lightweight contest
Weights
Josh Taylor 9st 13lb 8oz
Apinun Khongsong 9st 13lb 8oz
Charlie Edwards 8st 5lb 8oz
Kyle Williams 8st 5lb 12oz
Davey Oliver Joyce 8st 9lb 4oz
Ionut Baluta 8st 9lb 4oz
George Davey 11st 0lb 8oz
Jeff Thomas 11st 1lb 8oz
Eithan James 10st 1lb 4oz
Kris Pilkington 10st 1lb 4oz
Full event report HERE
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