Josh Taylor has confirmed he is set to fight Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong in his first defence since becoming WBA and IBF champion.
The super-lightweight boxer admits he has to fulfil his mandatory obligation against the 23-year-old before turning his attention to locking horns with WBC and WBO belt-holder Jose Ramirez.
Like Taylor, Khongsong has won all of his 16 bouts, although the Thai is unlikely to pose any serious threat to the 29-year-old.
Scottish boxing world champion Josh Taylor splits from promoters to join Las Vegas agency
Taylor is dreaming of getting his hands on all four belts in the 140lbs division but will also have to wait for the outcome of Ramirez’s defence against Victor Postol on February 1.
Taylor said: “Ramirez has the mandatory against Postol in February and I have to do it with my IBF belt with this guy from Thailand.
“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 he’ll be the guy I want because he’ll have the two belts.”
Edinburgh-born Taylor, who split with Barry McGuigan last week after signing with American promoters Top Rank, is hoping to be on home soil against Khongsong but concedes he will likely have to travel across the Atlantic for a potential bout with Ramirez.
Speaking to IFLTV added: “I’m hoping I’ll have a defence in Scotland before then going Stateside to chase the Ramirez fight.
“I can’t see Ramirez coming over here, I’d push for it but I have to go to America.
“I’ll go there, and see my name up in bright lights. The future is bright and I can’t wait to get going.
“That fight has to happen at some point this year, thats my goal and focus, becoming undisputed king and be the first man to do it since Ken Buchanan.”
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