BOXING: Barry McGuigan expects Josh Taylor to be tested by Ohara Davies

The Irishman may not have a lot of time for the Londoner after his “sheepish” performance at a Glasgow press conference last week.

However, McGuigan accepts that Taylor will need to be at his best if he is to extend his unbeaten record to double figures.

The 26-year-old Commonwealth super lightweight champion boasts eight wins inside the distance in nine bouts since turning professional in 2015.

However, 25-year-old Hackney fighter Davies, the WBC silver title holder, is also undefeated with 12 knockouts in 15 wins and that makes McGuigan cautious.

The former WBA featherweight champion told the News Letter: “We have a lot of work to do between now and the 8th July.

“Josh has already started training and sparring and is in great condition and he better be because this is going to be a real search of every ability that he has; speed, power, endurance, the ability to soak up a punch, and fight non-stop for 12 rounds because that’s what he has to do.

“Davies just didn’t want to sell the show. That was the time to say something but he didn’t want to do it.

“But I hope the general public realise this is going to be a great fight, a tremendous fight.

“And he is a dangerous fighter, there is no question of that.

“He can punch, he has knocked out 12 of his 15 opponents so he can bang.

“He is the WBC silver champion and he is not that for nothing.

“He is a very dangerous fighter.”

And James DeGale expects to resume fighting before the end of the year after announcing he is to undergo shoulder surgery today.

The IBF super-middleweight champion has revealed that he was hurt during the build-up to his points victory over Rogelio Medina in April 2016 and carried the injury into his draw with Badou Jack in January.