Ekow Essuman is the former basketball hopeful turned boxing champ looking to spoil Josh Taylor's big comeback
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EKOW ESSUMAN has had a slam dunk boxing career after leaving behind his hopes of being a basketball star.
Essuman came to the UK from Botswana aged 11 and immigrated with a passion for sports.
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Ekow Essuman swapped basketball for football
Credit: Getty
He started playing basketball while at school and only began boxing in a bid to better his chances on the court.
Essuman told Fight Post: 'When I eventually moved to the UK, I got into football and then basketball and I was doing really well at basketball.
"One season I went to some try-outs for a big team locally and I didn't get in because I wasn't fit enough.
"They wanted me to be more ambidextrous. It really got to me and I wanted to better myself, get fitter and come back stronger for the next season.
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I gave it a go and my first session, I had two left feet and struggled with the bag.
"I slowly got into it and it got to the point where I thought 'I'll have one bout' and I just caught the bug."
Before long, Essuman was competing in national finals after only starting boxing at 17 and even earned himself a place on the GB squad.
That was all while studying for a Marketing, Design and Communications degree at Nottingham Trent University.
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He said: "It was initially just juggling the two. I'd take my uni work with me to camp and do it while between the training sessions and at night when we were meant to be resting.
"Shortly after uni, I became a junior web developer for the A.G.A group.
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"I was working on up to 40 websites for them at the time, in different countries, in different languages as well. I was doing that whilst at GB.
"But eventually when I got offered the podium spot, I had to put that to one side, as I was spending a lot of time with GB on camp, so I wouldn't have been able to work from home in regards to web design.'
Essuman eventually turned professional in 2016 with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren.
And over nine years and 22 bouts, he has become one of the best welterweights in the country with British and Commonwealth titles to his name.
Essuman suffered defeat for the first time in 2023 - losing a decision to Harry Scarff - but he has since returned with two wins since.
Now he welcomes former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor to the 147lb division this Saturday in Scotland.
I gave it a go and my first session, I had two left feet and struggled with the bag. I slowly got into it and it got to the point where I thought 'I'll have one bout' and I just caught the bug.
Ekow Essuman
And the two know each other well from their time in the GB set up in Sheffield.
Essuman told Ring Magazine: "To be honest, I personally touted him as one of the higher talents on GB whilst I was there so I always had respect for him.
"I was always just shooting from the hip of him, just being really honest and whatnot.
"We've talked a few times as pros, just about matches we'd had and stuff like that, and the respect was always there.
"He knows I respect him. I've been training hard for it because I know he's going to pose a hard puzzle to solve but I am going to solve it."
Taylor was beaten by Teofimo Lopez in 2023 and then suffered defeat in his rematch with Jack Catterall last May.
And his career could be on the line when he returns up in weight.
Essuman said: "Regardless of if he has the answers or not, he will come apart because I'm not going to let anything else happen but that."
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