After becoming one of Scotland’s most celebrated boxers, Josh Taylor is embarking on a new chapter in his career, aiming for world championships in multiple weight divisions.
Despite his past successes, recent defeats have raised questions about whether the 34-year-old Taylor, with a record of 19 wins and 2 losses (13 KOs), can still compete at boxing’s highest level. At a press conference in Glasgow, announcing his upcoming fight, the former undisputed super lightweight champion declared his belief that he is capable of defeating any fighter in the world. This statement comes before his welterweight debut on May 24 against Ekow Essuman, a former British champion and currently ranked number 13 by the WBA, who has a record of 21 wins and 1 loss (8 KOs).
Taylor’s прошлые достижения включают завоевание титула чемпиона мира IBF в суперлегком весе в 2019 году в бою с Иваном Баранчиком, а также объединение поясов, одержав победу решением большинства судей над чемпионом WBA Реджисом Прогрейсом в финале Всемирной боксерской суперсерии.
After quickly defeating Apinun Khongsong in the first round, Taylor progressed to an undisputed title fight against Jose Carlos Ramirez in 2021, becoming only the fifth boxer to hold all four major belts simultaneously after winning by unanimous decision.
However, since that peak, Taylor’s performance has declined. A controversial split-decision victory over Jack Catterall was widely criticized, followed by his first professional loss to Teofimo Lopez and a subsequent defeat in a rematch with Catterall.
Last month, Taylor’s signing with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions was confirmed as he prepares to move up to the welterweight division. It was later announced that Essuman would be his opponent for his debut at 147lbs.
At the press conference, Taylor admitted that Essuman is a challenging opponent for his first welterweight fight.
“I’ve achieved everything at light welterweight, and now I’m starting over as the challenger in the welterweight division. I aim to prove that I can become a world champion in two weight classes,” Taylor stated.
“I chose a very tough and experienced opponent in Ekow. He is a great fighter, very strong, and known as ‘The Engine’ because he always gives his opponents a difficult fight.”
“I anticipate a tough night, and this has given me the motivation and a bit of fear that I need to bring out the best in myself during training camp. I believe facing Ekow will push me to perform at my highest level because I know he will bring the intensity.”
Essuman responded by expressing his view that he is more than just the ‘Engine’ he is nicknamed, believing that his other boxing skills have been underestimated.
“This is the perfect fight for Ekow Essuman. You will see glimpses of the ‘Engine’, glimpses of the ‘Spectre’ – you will see different aspects of my abilities, and that is why I wanted these big fights. I felt that people were only acknowledging my stamina and strength, but they have overlooked other dimensions of my boxing.”
However, Taylor appeared confident in his abilities, asserting that he is still capable of beating “any fighter in the world.”
“I believe that when I am at my best, I can outbox and outfight anyone. I have proven it before. When I am performing at my peak, I can beat any fighter in the world, and I truly believe that.”
The event will also feature a bout between former British featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins, with a record of 16 wins and 0 losses (7 KOs), and Lee McGregor, 15-1-1 (11 KOs), a former European bantamweight titleholder, in an intriguing matchup at 126lbs.
