AFTER establishing himself as one of Scotland’s greatest ever fighters, Josh Taylor is now set to embark on a new quest in his much-lauded career, as ‘The Tartan Tornado’ bids for multi-divisional world champion status.
Yet, despite his past achievements, back-to-back defeats have brought doubts as to whether 34-year-old Taylor, 19-2 (13 KOs), can still perform at the peak of boxing. At today’s press conference in Glasgow to officially announce his next fight, the former undisputed super lightweight champion declared that he is capable of beating ‘every fighter in the world’ prior to his welterweight debut on May 24 against former British champion and current WBA number 13 contender Ekow Essuman, 21-1 (8 KOs).
Taylor outpointed Ivan Baranchyk for the IBF super lightweight world title back in 2019 before defeating WBA champion Regis Prograis by majority-decision in the final of the World Boxing Super Series to unify the belts.
After dispatching of Apinun Khongsong within just one-round, Taylor moved on to an undisputed showdown against Jose Carlos Ramirez in 2021 and became just the fifth four-belt undisputed champion, claiming a unanimous decision win.
Yet, since that glorious night, Taylor’s form has declined, with a controversial split-decision win over Jack Catterall being criticised by the masses, before suffering a first career defeat against Teofimo Lopez and then losing out in the rematch to Catterall.
Last month, it was confirmed that Taylor had signed with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions ahead of a move up to the welterweight division and it was later revealed that Essuman would be in the away corner for Taylor’s 147lb bow.
At today’s launch presser, Taylor admitted that Essuman is a tough dance-partner for his first welterweight contest.
“I’ve been there and done that and won all four of the t-shirts at light welter, now I am back to being the hunter. I am nothing at welterweight. I am coming up here to try and prove a point that I can become a two-weight world champion.
“I have chosen a very, very tough and tried and tested opponent in Ekow, here. He is a great fighter, very tough, very strong and the ‘Engine’ that he gets called – he comes and gives everybody a tough night.
“I am expecting a tough night, it has given me that fire in my belly and a little bit of the fear factor, which is what I needed to bring the best out of me during this training camp, to bring the best out of myself. I believe that I will get the best out of myself by facing Ekow here because I know that he brings the fire.”
In response, Essuman explained his belief that he is more than just the ‘Engine’ that he is nicknamed as, believing that his other skills have been ‘slept on’ in the past.
“It’s the perfect fight for Ekow Essuman, you’ll see flickers of the ‘Engine’, flickers of the ‘Spectre’ – you will see different sides to me and that is exactly why I wanted these big fights. I was thinking that people were thinking ‘he has just got that good engine, he has just got this and that’ but they have slept on a few different sides to me.”
However, Taylor seemed confident in his own abilities, as he proudly declared that he is still capable of beating ‘every fighter in the world’.
“I feel like I can do that [outbox and outfight with] anyone when I am at my best. I have done it, I have proven it, I have been there and done it. I believe that, when I am firing on all cylinders and performing, I can beat every fighter in the world, and I truly believe that.”
The card also features former British featherweight champion, Nathaniel Collins, 16-0 (7 KOs), who takes on Lee McGregor, 15-1-1 (11 KOs), who previously held the EBU European bantamweight marble, in an intriguing battle down at 126lbs.
