Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong Odds and Picks for Main Card

• Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong goes Saturday, September 26th at 2:30 PM ET
• Who emerges from this weekend with a pair of super lightweight world titles?
• Check out the fight odds, analysis, and prediction below

Josh Taylor and Apinun Khongsong are set to throw down at York Hall in London, England. Taylor vs Khongsong will throw down in the well regarded UK fight venue with the broadcast going on ESPN+.

The IBF and WBA super lightweight world titles are up for grabs with champion Taylor looking to ward off the hungry challenger Khongsong.

Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong Main Card Odds

Odds as of September 23rd

Josh Taylor’s Path to Title Unification

Taylor vaulted up the divisional hierarchy in a big way during his last bout which saw him hand Regis Prograis his first pro defeat in October of last year.

This is largely being set up as a “stay-busy” fight for Josh Taylor to stave off any potential ring rust en route to a big-money matchup with Jose Ramirez. He must not get too comfortable and overlook Khongsong though – otherwise, those Ramirez fight plans go up in smoke.

.@JoshTaylorBoxer is currently locked in on clearing the final hurdle to set up a 4-belt, winner-takes-all showdown with Ramírez – IBF mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13 KO).#TaylorKhongsong | SEPT 26 | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/vrF661j3fQ

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 18, 2020

This also marks Josh Taylor’s first-time fighting under the Top Rank banner, which should bring even more international eyeballs to his pugilistic prowess.

Both of these combatants are undefeated and have identical records with sixteen wins each. Someone’s 0 has got to go when the two get into the ring this weekend.

Apinun Khongsong in the Role of Spoiler

Khongsong is the IBF mandatory challenger and after a May event cancellation due to coronavirus, is finally getting his shot at Taylor.

Apinun Khongsong has largely been plying his trade on the Thailand circuit where he has collected Pan Pacific and Asia titles both under the IBF banner.

As Khongsong readies for his first fight in the UK, he also looks to vault upwards to that world championship level.

View this post on Instagram

鮮やかな右アッパーカット一閃！ #ApinunKhongsong #boxing #boxer #portrait #monochrome #ボクシング #ボクサー #モノクロ #ポートレート #ポートレイト #アピヌンコーンソーン‬ #akihirokondo #近藤明広

A post shared by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi 山口裕朗 (@finito22) on Feb 18, 2019 at 6:35am PST

These 140 pounders both have good knockout rates heading into this contest. Taylor sits at 75 percent overall and Khongsong has a stoppage rate of 81 percent.

Khongsong is riding a six-fight KO streak heading into this contest. I think putting aside the knockout power of both, I think Taylor is a much more technical and crafty fighter who can sustain great performances while going the full distance.

I also think Josh Taylor has the superior resume overall and this will translate into certain confidence and comfortability from those prior experiences.

Taylor vs Khongsong Tale of the Tape

I can see the first few rounds being somewhat competitive but eventually, Taylor is going to start running away with it.  I see him putting on a sweet science masterclass and giving a bit of a boxing lesson while defending his world championships.

Ultimately, I see Josh Taylor getting it done via decision when Taylor vs Khongsong goes down.

Pick: Josh Taylor (-5000)

Main Card Picks for Taylor vs Khongsong

1. Charlie Edwards vs Kyle Williams: This co-main event feature is going down at bantamweight. The confluence of the sub-50 percent knockout rate and the stylistic proclivities of Edwards leads me to believe that he wins via decision here. Pick: Charlie Edwards (-900)
2. David Oliver Joyce vs Ionut Baluta: The WBO European super-bantamweight title is on the line in this prizefight. I think Baluta gets handed his first stoppage loss in this outing and Joyce retains his championship belt inside of seven rounds. Pick: David Oliver Joyce (-275)