Apinum Khongsong – Syndication Server

Josh Taylor on boxing’s new waiting game: ‘It’s really frustrating’

A frustrated Josh Taylor, whose career was soaring, must now wait with his boxing brethren for the opportunity to get back into the ring.

The titles are new. The contract is new. The trainer is new. It’s a brand new life for Josh Taylor, but it’ll have to wait a while. Coronavirus has put the world on hold, including the one that Taylor hopes to unify.

Taylor’s first title defense has fallen into a familiar category. His junior welterweight bout against challenger Apinun Khonsong, scheduled for May 2 in Glasgow, Scotland, has been postponed. But don’t make any plans. There’s no new date and there’s no idea when there might be one. Taylor must feel like he has a winning ticket, yet the lottery offices are closed and nobody knows when they’ll re-open.

“That’s the way it goes,’’ Taylor told his hometown newspaper, the Evening News in Edinburgh. “It’s completely out of my control, so it’s something you’ve just got to accept. Everything happens for a reason. So it might work out for the better when I fight him at a later date.’’

Taylor has been training in Las Vegas for his first fight since he added a second 140-pound belt with a decision over Regis Prograis on Oct. 26 in London. He signed with Top Rank after the dramatic victory. He left promoter Barry McGuigan and trainer Shane McGuigan in a controversial move. Then he hired Ben Davison, Tyson Fury’s former trainer.

It looked as if all the moves had been made. The table was set for an eventual bout against Jose Ramirez for all the pieces to the world’s 140-pound title. But the eventual end of coronavirus is nowhere in sight.

“We’ve never experienced this kind of situation before, so we’ve just got to sit tight and follow the guidelines,’’ Taylor said. “I’d been sitting watching all the boxing shows scheduled for the next month or two being postponed. So it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the call finally came through to tell me it was off.’’

Taylor, who got the news Tuesday, is hoping for a new date in July. Then again, so are a lot of other fighters.

“I’ve spent a lot of money on this training camp coming out to Vegas,’’ Taylor said. “… So it’s really frustrating. I’ve been in camp for quite a few weeks now, and although there is no alternative date yet, I would hope the fight could maybe be rescheduled for July or something like that.

“I’ll keep training in the gym and hopefully it’s not too long before I’m back in the ring.”

Only the waiting will get old.

Top Rank cancels cards through April, including Beterbiev, Inoue bouts

Top Rank shelved all cards scheduled through April, including those featuring Artur Beterbiev and Naoya Inoue, because of coronavirus.

One more domino fell Monday.

Top Rank shelved all cards scheduled through April, including light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev’s title defense on March 28 and bantamweight champ Naoya Inoue’s Las Vegas debut on April 25 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The health and safety of our fighters, staff and ESPN’s incredible production team is the most important thing as we plan our next steps,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said hours after Premier Boxing Champions canceled its schedule through April and Matchroom Boxing canceled the Regis Prograis-Maurice Hooker junior welterweight bout.

“We look forward to the day when we can bring our loyal fans world-class boxing once again, but exercising caution is the most prudent thing to do at this moment.”

After canceling cards in New York featuring featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson on Saturday and Mick Conlan on Tuesday, Arum had talked about trying to stage boxing in a studio-like production. There would have been no fans. Only judges, referee, ringside physician, ESPN’s broadcast crew and other necessary personnel would have been there.

Then, however, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory Sunday, recommending that events with 50 people or more should not happen over the next eight weeks. On top of that, MGM announced that its casinos and hotels in Las Vegas would be closed for “the foreseeable future.’’

Inoue was scheduled for a title defense against John Riel Casimero at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, an MGM property. Beterbiev was set to fight Fanlong Meng in Quebec City, Canada.

Promoter Bob Arum: Staging cards in studios could save them

Bob Arum is mulling the possibility of staging boxing cards in studios, with only essential personnel, but Coronavirus testing would be key.

From elbow bumps when greeting someone to staying at home, there are lots of ways to practice social distancing.

Going into a studio might be another way.

At least, Bob Arum thinks so.

In attempt to save cards from cancellation in the face of the spreading coronavirus pandemic, Arum said he is thinking about staging bouts without fans and with only cameras, referee, judges, ringside physicians and other necessary personnel in Las Vegas.

“We’re gonna try to set up a studio atmosphere in Vegas, so we can do fights maybe,” the Top Rank chairman said Friday during “The Ak & Barak Show” on SiriusXM.

A couple of options are the Artur Beterbiev-Meng Fanlong and Naoya Inoue-John Riel Casimero bouts, which had been scheduled for March 28 in Quebec City and April 25 in Las Vegas, respectively.

Arum had considered a studio-like setting for the Shakur Stevenson-Miguel Marriaga fight this past Saturday and a Saint Patrick’s Day card featuring Mick Conlan on Tuesday, both at the Hulu Theater at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Initially, it was announced both cards would take place without fans in the seats. Then, however, both were cancelled. The Nevada State Athletic Commission said no, because testing for the respiratory infection was not available, according to Arum.

ESPN was scheduled to televise both cards. Other than the UFC, the network has been left with virtually no content because of the virus. College basketball’s tournaments have been cancelled. The NBA has been suspended. Major league baseball has canceled remaining spring-training games.

“They’re gonna need content, and we can provide content’’ Arum said. “We’ve talked to the athletic commission here (in Nevada), doing fights in a studio. But we’ve got to get the testing done. We’ve gotta get enough tests here, so that we can test the fighters before the fights, so we can show that they do not have the virus. Or, if they have the virus, they can’t fight. I mean, that’s what we’re working on.”

Top Rank taking precautions until threat of coronavirus subsides

Top Rank, which had ambitious plans to go global just a few months ago, is taking precautions because of the spread of coronavirus.

Boxing is a lot like anybody else with travel plans these days.

The business is staying at home, at least until the threat of coronavirus subsides.

Top Rank, which had ambitious plans to go global just a few months ago, is taking precautions, both with Japanese bantamweight Naoya Inoue and Thai junior welterweight Apinum Khongsong.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN that he plans to bring Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs), No. 4 in Boxing Junkie’s latest pound-for-pound poll, to Las Vegas as early as possible for his scheduled title unification bout with John Riel Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs) on April 25 at Mandalay Bay.

Inoue’s home country has suspended boxing throughout the month of March because of coronavirus.

“Obviously, everybody in boxing who does international fights is concerned,’’ Arum said. “We’re going to bring him and his family to Las Vegas.’’

Arum said there are also plans to have Khongsong (16-0, 13 KOs) in Scotland as soon as possible. He is scheduled to face junior-welterweight champion Josh Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) in a mandatory title defense on May 2 in Glasgow.

It’s not clear what kind of travel restrictions either might face. There are reports in the U.S. of increasing numbers of deaths and infections from the virus, especially in Seattle.

Top Rank has already been impacted by the respiratory infection. It was forced to cancel a Feb. 1 date featuring junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez (25-0, 17 KOs) against Viktor Postol (31-2, 12 KOs) in China, where the virus originated. The bout was subsequently re-scheduled for May 9 in Fresno, California, Ramirez’ hometown.

“We still have a commitment to China,” Arum said. “Obviously, we can’t go there. We have somebody here now, a promoter from Indonesia. Well, we can’t contemplate doing anything there. So we’re limiting ourselves to events in the U.K.”

Ben Davison: ‘What’s most important to me is Tyson (Fury) being victorious

Ben Davison moves on to Josh Taylor’s corner without regrets that he wasn’t there for Tyson Fury’s stunning victory over Deontay Wilder.

Ben Davison moves on to Josh Taylor’s corner without regrets that he wasn’t there for Tyson Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Deontay Wilder.

In a business known for acrimonious splits between trainers and fighters, Davison almost stands alone.

He’s just happy that a friend won.

“What’s most important to me is Tyson being victorious,” Davison told talkSPORT. “I’ve got many years in this sport.’’

Those years continue with Taylor, the junior welterweight champion who announced Thursday that Davison will be his new trainer for a mandatory defense against Apinum Khongsong on May 2.

Taylor, who holds two 140-pound belts, is coming off a contentious split with trainer Shane McGuigan after his jump from Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions to Top Rank.

But there was no anger from Davison at Fury’s decision to hire SugarHill Steward, who added the aggressive tactics long taught by his late mentor and uncle, Emanuel Steward, to Fury’s skillset.

“Tyson had said to me he wanted to adopt a more aggressive approach,’’ said Davison, who was in Fury’s corner for their draw with Wilder in their fist fight in December 2018. “It proved to be the right decision for him and obviously I wanted him to be victorious more than anything.

“So, as well as a coach and fighter relationship, we had a friendship that was more than anything else. I wanted him to win. And if that meant I was going to be there and – put bluntly – if it meant that I wasn’t going to gain from it financially, that doesn’t matter.’’

A more aggressive Fury in the early rounds against Wilder in the heavyweight rematch Feb. 22 proved to be brilliant. It confused Wilder. Fury was on top of him immediately, which eliminated the space Wilder needs for the leverage to set up his feared right hand.

“Tyson had actually said to me quite a while ago that he wanted to start fast and start hard against Deontay Wilder,’’ Davison said. “But he actually said it to me and I said to him, ‘There are a couple of ways you can go about it. You can Hagler-Hearns on him or you can Sugar Ray Leonard-Hearns him.’’

Turns out, he did a lot of both.

Tyson Fury beats the heavyweight title out of Deontay Wilder

Josh Taylor vs. Apinum Khongsong set for May 2 in Scotland

Josh Taylor will defend his junior welterweight titles against Apinum Khongsong on May 2 at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland on ESPN+

The next chapter in Josh Taylor’s career will begin at home.

Taylor’s mandatory title defense against Apinum Khongsong will take place in Scotland on May 2 in his first bout since his surprising jump to Top Rank in early January, about 2½ months after his dramatic majority-decision victory over Regis Prograis for two pieces of the junior welterweight title.

Top Rank announced Thursday that Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) will face Khongsong (16-0, 13 KOs), of Thailand, in at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow on ESPN+.

Taylor, who is from Edinburgh, will be fighting at the arena for a fifth time.

“I am super excited to kick-start the new year with a fresh start and with a new team,” said Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs), who won his first 140-pound belt in Glasgow by a unanimous decision over Ivan Baranchyk on May 18.

The Taylor announcement came on the same day that Prograis’ next bout against Maurice Hooker on April 17 was formally announced at a news conference. It might have been coincidence, but Taylor and Progais appear to be on track for a rematch in the busy junior welterweight division.

Jose Ramirez, who also holds two belts, faces Viktor Postol in a rescheduled bout on May 9 in Fresno, California, Ramirez’s hometown.

It’s still not clear who will train Taylor, who has been working with former Tyson Fury trainer Ben Davison and Adam Booth. Taylor split with Shane McGuigan when he left Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions for Top Rank.

Sampson Boxing loses Josh Taylor defense after missing payment

Sampson Boxing loses Josh Taylor defense after missing payment. Top Rank will promote the fight.

Sampson Lewkowicz won the auction. But it looks as if he only bought some headlines. First, good. Then, bad

Lewkowicz failed to make good on his bid for the promotional rights to junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor’s mandatory defense against Apinun Khongsong of Thailand.

Lewkowicz, of Sampson Boxing, missed Friday’s midnight deadline for a second payment on the $1.32 million he had bid on the bout, according to a report by ESPN, which will televise the bout. He made the first payment, 10 percent, or $132,000.

The default means the promotional rights go to Top Rank, which had the second highest bid at $1.26 million. It also means Top Rank will promote Taylor in his first fight since they signed him on Jan. 9.

“We are not at all surprised that he defaulted,’’ Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN. “We are more surprised that he bid a ridiculous amount of money, considering the worth of the opponent.’’

Lewkowicz signed Khongsong to a co-promotional contract within hours of news that Taylor had jumped to Top Rank. According to Moretti, Lewkowicz had neither a network nor a site in place when he made the bid.

“You win some, lose some,’’ Lewkowicz said. “I had a deal made, and it fell out, and I will never cry.’’

Lewkowicz loses his initial $132,000 deposit. That’s a lot of money for a few headlines.

Sampson Boxing wins right to promote Josh Taylor’s mandatory title defense

Sampson Lewkowicz beat out Top Rank for the promotional rights to junior welterweight Josh Taylor’s title defense against Apinum Khongsong.

There’s a price tag attached to winning a purse bid and Sampson Lewkowicz was willing to pay it

Lewkowicz beat out Top Rank on Friday for the promotional rights to junior welterweight Josh Taylor’s mandatory title defense against Apinum Khongsong.

Lewkowicz, of Sampson Boxing, bid $1.32 million for the fight, $60,000 more than Top Rank’s $1.26-million offer during an auction at the International Boxing Federation offices in Springfield, New Jersey.

It was a surprise, mostly because Taylor’s mandatory defense of one of his two 140-pound titles will be his first fight under his new Top Rank contract, signed on Jan. 9.

“I believe that Taylor is a great champion, but I will not be surprised when Khongsong wins, just like I wasn’t surprised last week when [Jeison] Rosario won [by a fifth-round TKO of Julian Williams],’’ Lewkowicz, Khonsong’s co-promoter, told ESPN. “Nobody believes me, but I represent the best fighters on earth.”

Under terms of the purse bid, Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs), of Scotland, gets 65 percent, $858,000. Khongsong (16-0, 13 KOs), of Thailand, gets 35 percent, $462,000.

Lewkowicz said the that the fight will probably happen in the U.K. within a mandated 90 days.