Frank Warren returns with a banger of a free card, hosting Josh Taylor’s defence of his WBA and IBF world titles, as well as recent Matchroom acquisition, Charlie Edwards.

Queensberry: Taylor vs Khongsong Predictions & Results

Josh Taylor could very well establish himself as the best boxer to hail from Scotland, of all time. At just twenty-nine years old, Taylor has gone about cleaning up the very best of the Super Lightweight division during the WBSS tournament. Dominant wins over Viktor Postol and Ivan Baranchyk, and a split-decision war over the immensely talented, Regis Prograis, Taylor is the cream of the Super Lightweight crop. Apinun Khongsong may be an unknown entity to most fans, but the Thai boxer proved his worth in a five-round stoppage whopping of former world title challenger, Akihiro Kondo. While Khongsong may be stratospheres away from Taylor in terms of technical ability, he still holds a very impressive 81% KO ratio across his young four-year career.

Moving on from Matchroom/Sky since losing (technically, no contest) his WBC world flyweight title to Julio Cesar Martinez, Edwards is looking to re-establish himself at a new weight class. The limitations of Edwards’ firepower was exposed by Martinez, who shrugged off the offence of Edwards and punched holes into his defence. Edwards will be hoping the move up in weight will add some much needed sting to his shots, whilst also avoiding the threat of a Martinez rematch.

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Main Event

Super Lightweight (140)

WBA Super World Super Lightweight Title

IBF Super World Super Lightweight Title

Josh Taylor (16-0, 12KO) vs Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13KO)

Josh Taylor is a complete master of distance. Taylor’s style can at times look sloppy, especially when he falls into his lengthier combinations, but rest assured Taylor is well aware of his positioning. Prior to the Ohara Davies fight, the showdown was viewed as a 50/50 in which Davies’ power may have been able to expose Taylor falling into his shots. Taylor, instead, showed his technical calibre as he pieced up Davies at a mid-range that Davies could simply not compute. Since the heated domestic clash, Taylor has improved leaps and bounds. At every step-up in competition, Taylor has been able to find another gear to out-class his opponents.

Too powerful a puncher for Ryan Martin, too varied an offence for Ivan Baranchyk, and just a shade more hardy than Regis Prograis, Josh Taylor has proved himself as well-rounded a champion as you can find. Aided by his length, Taylor uses his southpaw stance to frustrate opponents by closing off the channel for their jab. With power in both hands, Taylor’s ability to land damaging shots from any angle is compounded by his incredible hand speed. This may read rather one-sided, but Josh Taylor is very much an elite fighter with few glaring weaknesses, and will remain a dominant force at Super Lightweight unless he moves weight.

Apinun Khongsong has an extremely difficult task in front of him. Certainly behind in pure skill, Khongsong will have to rely on his power to gain respect from his opponent early. Knocking out Japanese veteran, Akihiro Kondo, in five rounds proved that Khongsong is a threat to anyone in the lower weight classes. Unfortunately for Khongsong, Taylor has excelled against power punchers. Absorbing a lot of damage against Regis Prograis, Taylor’s chin not only held up, but the year layoff since the fight will have left Taylor enough time to recover.

Predicted Result: Taylor Decision

Taylor could end this in the later rounds, but Khongsong is a young fighter with few miles on his body and should be able to endure much of the early punishment he receives. Taylor should put on a boxing clinic after a couple early warm-up rounds.

Result: Taylor def. Khongsong // KO (body shot) Round 1 2:41

Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌

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Co-Main Event

Bantamweight (118)

Charlie Edwards (15-1, 6KO) vs Kyle Williams (11-2, 3KO)

Charlie Edwards is broken goods in the eyes of Matchroom. Exposed by Julio Cesar Martinez in a three round beatdown, Hearn was happy to ship Edwards off to Queensberry despite the loss not appearing on his record by virtue of an illegal shot (no contest). Perhaps Edwards will never be able to establish himself as an elite in the professional ranks, but he is still a former world champion with an aesthetically pleasing style. At just twenty-seven years of age, Warren still has time to return Edwards to the world level and witness a stylistic change that makes up for his lack of power.

A fast-handed speedster, Edwards prefers to sit on the back-foot and bait opponents onto a flurry. Relying heavily on his footwork, it is ironic that Edwards’ often tangles his feet when trying to exit out of the side when backed up to the ropes. Martinez exposed this weakness in Edwards’ last fight, and John Riel Casimero punished the same mistakes back in 2016. Despite this, there are few boxers who have the physical and mental skill to effectively cut off the ring against Edwards’. With the right match-making, Edwards’ could prove a somewhat dominant champ, even at this heavier weight class.

Kyle Williams is a hardy domestic fighter, who is thoroughly British level. A punishing five round defeat at the hands of prospect, Ukashir Farooq, is of no shame but dropping a split decision to Ionut Baluta highlighted William’s technical limitations which will restrict any career progress. Feather-fisted, and willing to sit for too long in the pocket, Edwards’ will be able to showcase his quality and firmly cement his status as a European/World level fighter.

Predicted Result: Edwards TKO Round 5

Edwards isn’t a big puncher, but he will be looking to lay down some fireworks on his BT Sport debut. Williams will be there to be hit, with very little in way of firepower in return.

Result: Edwards def. Williams // Decision (referee’s card – 99-91)

Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌

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Main Card

Super Bantamweight (122)

WBO European Super Bantamweight Title

David Oliver Joyce (12-1, 9KO) vs Ionut Baluta (13-2, 2KO)

Two very limited fighters, but two very tough men. A typical European level clash, both men will attempt to break the will of their opponent rather than out-box their way to a decision victory. David Oliver Joyce prevented Lee Haskins’ from a successful retirement with a fifth-round stoppage, and has a decent amount of power at the regional level. Unfortunately, Joyce’s power is not effective against fighters above the domestic sphere as he cannot create the necessary opportunities to land. Front-foot pressure that moves in a straight line rather than cutting off the ring in a calculated manner, Joyce found himself fighting shadows during his nine round beating to back-foot counter-puncher Leigh Wood.

Baluta has finally started to find his fight in the professional ranks. A scrappy split decision over the hardy, Kyle Williams, and a close decision victory against TJ Doheny, Baluta is fighting way above his skillset. Not throwing many straight shots, Baluta’s real money shot is the liver punch. Sneaking it in under the elbow of his opponent, if Baluta was blessed with a bit more punching power, he could have been a real threat in the Bantamweight division.

Predicted Result: Joyce Decision

Both men aren’t afraid to throw hard, but Joyce’s unrelenting pressure will eventually overwhelm Baluta, who struggled at times with the pressure of Doheny.

Result: Baluta def. Joyce // TKO (stoppage) Round 3 1:49

Winner ❌ // Method ❌ // Round ❌

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Super Welterweight (154)

George Davey (2-0) vs Jeff Thomas (12-7-3, 1KO)

George Davey is a very tall, rangey fighter who hasn’t real shown his true quality yet. Adopting a hands down style, Davey has been able to routinely tag his opponents with a jab that they simply cannot see coming from down low. Struggling with range so far, Davey needs to find his comfortable mid-range to throw his powerful straight shots, rather than his current troubles with swarming his work.

Jess Thomas isn’t really a journeyman, or a gatekeeper. Thomas’ career has been a wild stop and start ride, fighting across 2001-2006, returning for 2011-2012 and now re-starting again in 2020. Having only beaten cans, Thomas does not throw in enough volume or with enough power to threaten anybody else. Adopting a high guard, and front-foot pressure, this will be a nice test for Davey so early in his career.

Predicted Result: Davey Decision

Davey won’t find it too hard to tag Thomas, but he will need to make sure his head movement is crisp enough to justify his hands down defensive style.

Result: Davey def. Thomas // Decision (referee’s card – 40-36)

Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️

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Super Lightweight (140)

Eithan James (3-0) vs Kris Pilkington (2-7-1)

Eithan James is a young, twenty-year old prospect, who has shown a decent variety in his striking. Gun-shy in the middle of the ring, James really starts to open up when he has his opponent backed up against the ropes. Against journeymen, James has been able to move the fight there simply through footwork. As he moves up in the rankings, James will need to be more shrewd to push his opponents back – adopting a more feint heavy offence.

Kris Pilkington does not throw a lot of punches. Seemingly happy with his role as a journeyman, Pilkington adopts a high guard and feints by leaning his entire upper body forward. Rather strange to watch.

Predicted Result: James Decision

Showcasing of James’ offensive quality, he is still very young and fights such as these are crucial for development.

Result: James def. Pilkington // Decision (referee’s card – 40-36)

Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️

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Lightweight (135)

Jordan Flynn (1-0) vs Jamie Quinn (7-104-2)

Not totally sold on Jordan Flynn as a prospect, even with his amateur background as a three times national champion. Flynn’s feet found themselves cemented in the ground, and was far too hittable, during his decision victory against Daniel Alder. Potentially, it was just debut jitters.

Jamie Quinn, the consummate journeyman, returns for another payday on a Queensberry card. Throwing a decent amount of volume, and willing to engage in an uglier in-fighting affair, Quinn is a solid journeyman.

Predicted Result: Flynn Decision

My head says Flynn to cruise to a decision victory, but for some reason I have a gut feeling that Quinn will make this a difficult affair.

Result: Flynn def. Quinn // Decision (referee’s card – 60-54)

Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️

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Prediction Accuracy

Queensberry: Taylor vs Khongsong

Winner: 5/6

Method: 3/6

Round: 3/6

2020 Boxing Season

Winner: 21/28

Method: 22/28

Round: 20/28

Takeaway comments: Charlie Edward’s did not look good at Bantamweight, where does he go now?

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