FORMER undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor will take a short break from boxing before considering his future.
The 34-year-old Scot was in action on Saturday night at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, his first fight in Scotland since defending the four belts against Jack Catterall in February 2022. This time round Taylor was debuting at welterweight against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman. The majority of fans were sent home disappointed after watching Taylor slip to his third consecutive defeat. Despite a positive start from Taylor he was pegged back by the unrelenting Essuman who grew stronger as the fight wore on and picked up a career-defining win on points.
After losses to Teofimo Lopez, Catterall in their May 2024 rematch and now Essuman there are serious concerns over whether Taylor, 19-3 (13 KOs), still has what it takes to compete at the top level. Speaking to BBC Sport a disappointed Taylor explained why he didn’t stick around for the post-fight interview after hearing the judges’ verdict.
“I was just totally gutted, hence the reason why I jumped out of the ring. My emotions were all over the place. I didn’t want to do an interview and end up saying something that I end up regretting.”
In the second half of the fight Taylor was faced by pleas from trainer Joe McNally to stay off the ropes and to not get involved with Essuman in the centre of the ring.
“I just haven’t executed the plan and stuck to it – I’ve strayed away from it,” Taylor said of his performance.
“I think I put a lot of it down to inactivity as well. Not being match fit and fighting fit. I need to get more active again if I’m gonna keep going, and get out at least a couple of times a year.”
Since beating Jose Carlos Ramirez in May 2021 to become Britain’s only undisputed champion of the four-belt era Taylor has fought just four times. The 2012 Olympian still hopes to return to the ring but won’t rush into any decision.
“I’ll be back next year or later on at the end of this year,” he said. “Hopefully, get another fight before the end of the year. As of now I’m just gonna take a little time out, spend time with my family, spend time with my wife Danielle. I’ll just relax for a couple of weeks and not make any hasty decisions. If I really feel that I’m not performing then I will hang them up.”
