Josh Taylor v Ekow Essuman

[Master]

Former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor has decided to move up a weight and will make his welterweight debut to challenge WBO European champion Ekow Essuman in Glasgow on 17 May.

The 34-year-old "Tartan Tornado" has signed with promoter Frank Warren's stable for his first fight since losing a rematch to Jack Catterall in May 2024.

Taylor took time out after back-to-back defeats by Teofimo Lopez and Catterall but returns at the heavier 67kg weight at a yet-to-be-announced venue.

The Prestonpans fighter has signed for Queensberry Promotions in what he previously called the "final chapter" of this career.

Warren said: "I am so much looking forward to returning to Scotland with the nation's biggest star and our latest signing, Josh Taylor, headlining and rebooting his career at welterweight, where I believe he can again do big things.

"But he will be up against it with Ekow Essuman in the opposite corner.

"What a good fight that is, that is a quality fight. Two really quality fighters. Esso is a real, real quality operator. He comes to fight and Josh is going to have his hands full."

Botswana-born Essuman - the 35-year-old nicknamed The Engine - has won 21 and lost one in his professional career after outpointing the previously undefeated Ben Vaughan in November and is the former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion.

Taylor, meanwhile, is 19-2 (13 KOs) in his previous division.

On the undercard, fellow Scots Lee McGregor and Nathaniel Collins will fight at featherweight.

Meanwhile, East Kilbride's David Jamieson will take on London's Aloys Youmbi in a heavyweight contest.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cx2m7xmw340o

[TIC]

josh finally moving to welter

[Master]

Moses is on the undercard of this show.

[TIC]

if josh has anything left he should win a unanimous decision

[Master]

It is an acid test for Josh, to see what he has left. If he can't best Essuman then he needs to call it a day at the world level.

[Master]

Josh Taylor says he no longer carries the burden of expectation as he takes the first step in his bid to become a two-weight world champion against Ekow Essuman in Glasgow on Saturday.

After the peak of cleaning out the light-welterweight division to become the UK's first undisputed champion in the four-belt era in 2021, the Scot's career has lost momentum.

Since that memorable victory over Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas four years ago, Taylor has fought just three times – a controversial points victory over Jack Catterall, a decision loss to American star Teofimo Lopez and a points defeat in the Catterall rematch last year.

"I feel like all the expectation of the whole nation, it's all kind of gone now," Taylor, 34, told BBC Scotland.

"So there's been a kind of a weight and a cloud lifted from above my head. I'm back to enjoying my boxing, I'm back to just going about my business and proving people wrong again.

"After I'd become undisputed, I went stale. I had done it, I had achieved it, completed it. So now it's back to the drawing board, and we'll have to go into becoming a two-weight world champion."

Taylor is a strong favourite against 36-year-old Essuman, a durable opponent but one who has never got near the level the Scot has been operating at.

The Tartan Tornado knows a defeat against the WBO European welterweight titleholder is unthinkable. He needs to win, and win well.

"I don't care what way it comes - by way of knockout or stoppage, or retirement, points win, comprehensive points win, said Taylor.

"As long as I look good getting the win, that's what matters. As long as I perform well, and get the belief back in me again from other people.

"I've not even comprehended losing, it can't come into my mind. It can't happen, it won't happen.

"If that does happen and I have to go and climb back down the ladder and fight lesser opponents to get back up to where I am now, and then move up – nah, I'm not doing that.

"I'm here to be the best."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/c8e64x4zegjo