By Andi Purewal
Age: 35
Division: Welterweight
From: Nottingham, born in Botswana.
Height: 5ft 10ins
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 21-1, 8 KOs
Titles: Former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion
Trained by: Barrington Brown
Next fight: After losing his British and Commonwealth crowns on the cards to Harry Scarff in November 2023, Essuman reinvigorated his career in 2024 with two thrilling wins over unbeaten contenders Owen Cooper (w tko 10) and Ben Vaughan (w pts 10). He will be hoping that renaissance continues this year.
When and why you started boxing:
Because I wasn’t good at basketball.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Bernard Hopkins.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Leigh Wood v Michael Conlan.
Personal career highlight:
I just love knocking people out.
Toughest opponent:
Tyrone Nurse.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
Tunnel vision.
Training tip:
Find the exercise that you hate the most and do it until it’s your best friend.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
Miller and Carter. Ten-ounce ribeye steak, some nice sauce on it, some mash or chips. You can’t go wrong.
Which other athlete would you like to be:
I’d like to be Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
He’s too old now but I would’ve said Denzel Washington. He’d just make me look old.
What one thing would you change in boxing:
I’d make it so the athlete didn’t have to wear many hats. So you could just focus on the boxing instead of being a promoter, being a businessman and do this and do that.
Yes, you can get a team but if you just had to focus on that it would make it a lot easier and the boxing would be entertaining.
Have you ever been starstruck:
No.
Last time you cried:
I do cry from time to time. I think it was happy tears to do with my children.
Something not many people know about you:
Watch out for my ring entrance music.
Best advice received:
From my dad. If you’re going to do anything you got to be the best at it and do it well.
Worst rumour about yourself:
I don’t know any rumours about me.
