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Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Josh Taylor issues apology for hasty Hydro exit after Ekow Essuman defeat as fans left to ponder one thing
The Tartan Tornado suffered his third consecutive defeat in Glasgow after stepping up to welterweight Josh Taylor has apologised to fans for his sharp exit from the Hydro – but the former undisputed champ is leaving supporters guessing about his future. The 34-year-old made a hasty departure from the ring following his points defeat to Ekow Essuman after stepping up to welterweight. The Tartan Tornado is licking his wounds following three defeats on the spin on the back of his incredible rise to undisputed king inside just 18 fights. Taylor paid tribute to the punters who have backed his charge to the top of the fight game. But he fell short of confirming whether he'd fight on. Taylor – posting on his social media – said: 'I would just like to apologise to all the fans last night for leaving the ring before having an interview and before taking the time to thank you all for showing up and showing out, as you always have done over the past 10 years. 'I headed to the changing rooms because I did not want to say something in the heat of the moment or that I'd later regret on live television. 'Your support means the world to me and you've created wonderful memories for me that will stay with me until the day I die. 'You've all helped to create some incredible moments in my life and despite the result, last night was another special night that was right up there, so thank each and every one of you. 'Thank you to Queensberry for bringing a big show back to Scotland and to Ekow once again on the victory.' Taylor's close pal and former world champion Carl Frampton admitted it looks like the end of the road for the Prestonpans warrior. He said: 'I seen glimpses of real good stuff at the start from Josh and then it just started to fade in the second half and just sadly, it looks like he's not the fighter that he once was and that's what happens when you're involved in hard fights and you get older. 'It happened to me and it happens to us all. It's a shame to see, a real shame to see. 'But again, like I've always said about Josh, he's someone who never got the credit he deserved when he should have had it. 'The guy should have been Sports Personality of the Year. 'Incredible, what he did when he became undisputed and who he fought to win it and how quickly he did it in his career. 'But it's clear to say that he's not the fighter that he used to be.'
Scotsman
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Josh Taylor's future up in the air after Ekow Essuman spoils the party
Josh Taylor suffered defeat in his debut at welterweight Josh Taylor's quest to become a two-weight world champion has hit a major bump in the road after a unanimous defeat to Ekow Essuman. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Making his long-awaited debut at welterweight - and his first duel in 12 months - the Prestonpans puncher came racing out of the traps at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow last night to dominate the early rounds, landing some powerful shots on his 36-year-old opponent from Nottingham - the standout being a colossal right hand in the fourth that sent Essuman retreating towards the ropes. However, the Englishman's response was immediate, landing a straight right hand unsettling the Tartan Tornado, and Essuman, a former British and Commonwealth champion, grew in confidence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Both fighters continued to trade blows, with Taylor suffering a cut to this left eye in the seventh, although this was from a clash of heads. Carl Frampton is a former stablemate of Josh Taylor There was a sense around the arena this one would go down to the wire and, unfortuanately for the partizan home crowd, it was Essuman who appeared to have more left in the tank as the latter rounds unfolded. The judges' scorecards of 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113 ensured a third straight defeat on the former undisputed super lightweight king's record following losses to Teofimo Lopez at New York's Madison Square Garden in June 2023, and Jack Catterall in May last year. So, the big question is where does 34-year-old Taylor go from here? Former Cyclone Promotions stablemate and two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, who was ringside working for broadcaster DAZN, is urging the Scot to seriously consider his future in the sport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I saw glimpses of real good stuff at the start from Josh and then it just started to fade in the second half and, sadly, it looks like he's not the fighter he once was," Frampton explained. "That's what happens when you're involved in hard fights and you get older. It happened to me and it happens to us all. "He just slowed down a bit and Ekow the engine, that's his name, he's fit and gritty and dogged and going to be there all night. He just slowed down a bit. This is what happens as you get a bit older. I know Ekow is older than Josh, but he hasn't been in the hard fights that Josh's been in and it just takes something away from you. "It's a shame to see, a real shame to see. But again, like I've always said about Josh, he's someone who never got the credit he deserved when he should have had it. The guy should have been Sports Personality of the Year. Incredible what he done when he won undisputed and who he fought to win it and how quickly he done it in his career. But it's clear to say that he's not the fighter that he used to be." Frampton continued: "I'm sure Josh has earned plenty of money, he's got a lovely wife, Danielle, and a good family and it's not up to me to tell anybody what they do with their life, but he's reached the pinnacle. He's done what no one even dreams they can do and become an undisputed. No one thinks about that when they turn pro. He done it in a marquee division and he should be very proud of that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It's a hard thing to do. I still believe Josh should have moved up even before, previous to the first Catterall fight. He stayed around, he had some big fights and then he's moved up, but it just looks to be too late." There was also huge disappointment for the Capital's Lee McGregor after he was stopped in the fourth round of his WBC silver featherweight showdown against Bearsden's Nathaniel Collins. The 28-year-old was dropped three times by his devastating compatriot before McGregor's corner threw in the towel to bring the contest to an end. However, Alex Arthur Jnr, son of former world super featherweight champion Alex Snr, got his professional career off to a flyer with a comfortable points win in his light heavyweight four-round clash against Robbie Chapman.
STV News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Josh Taylor warns ‘I'm the hunter again' ahead of Ekow Essuman bout
Josh Taylor believes he has made the move from hunted to hunter ahead of his welterweight debut against Ekow Essuman at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday night. The 34-year-old Prestonpans fighter lost his last two bouts to Jack Catterall and Teofimo Lopez and has moved up a weight, looking to become a two-weight world champion. The former undisputed junior welterweight champion faces 36-year-old WBO European champion Essuman and believes the psychology of the fight has changed as he looks to rise to the top in another weight division. Asked about getting his hunger back, Taylor said: 'I'm back to being the hunter. I've got a target to chase and I've got a target to get to. 'Now, rather being the target, and being the one that is getting chased and looking behind me, I know I've to go there (forward), and that's where I'm going. 'I'm focused with a single-track mind and that's the ambition. 'I'm absolutely feeling more comfortable in the division. Purely just because of making weight and not taking so much out my body. 'I'm full of energy, I'm fighting at my natural weight, I'm strong, I'm fit, I'm healthy. So, absolutely, I think it's a great advantage.' Taylor expects a tough test against the Botswana-born fighter from Nottingham, who has a 22-1 record and who cut a confident figure on stage at the media conference in Glasgow. The Scot said of Essuman: 'He is very good, very solid, an all-round fighter, strong, fit, aggressive, and quite a good boxing brain as well. 'It's got the makings of a barnstormer of a fight. But I can't see it being that, I can see it being a boxing match and me winning comprehensively. 'It's a must-win. It's a must-win for the two of us. 'If I don't win, where do I go? Do I come back down the levels and fight lesser opponents and stuff like that? No. It's not what I'm about. 'I'm in this fight game to be the best and fight the best. So that's the 'A' plan and losing is not an option.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Josh Taylor 'the hunter again' ahead of Ekow Essuman fight
The 34-year-old Prestonpans fighter lost his last two bouts to Jack Catterall and Teofimo Lopez and has moved up a weight, looking to become a two-weight world champion. The former undisputed junior welterweight champion faces 36-year-old WBO European champion Essuman and believes the psychology of the fight has changed as he looks to rise to the top in another weight division. Asked about getting his hunger back, Taylor said: 'I'm back to being the hunter. I've got a target to chase and I've got a target to get to. 'Now, rather being the target, and being the one that is getting chased and looking behind me, I know I've to go there (forward), and that's where I'm going. 'I'm focused with a single-track mind and that's the ambition. Read more: Ross County chief on 'wider problem' after shameful spitting incident The Derek McInnes transfer approach that will have to change at Hearts 'I'm absolutely feeling more comfortable in the division. Purely just because of making weight and not taking so much out my body. 'I'm full of energy, I'm fighting at my natural weight, I'm strong, I'm fit, I'm healthy. So, absolutely, I think it's a great advantage.' Taylor expects a tough test against the Botswana-born fighter from Nottingham, who has a 22-1 record and who cut a confident figure on stage at the media conference in Glasgow. The Scot said of Essuman: 'He is very good, very solid, an all-round fighter, strong, fit, aggressive, and quite a good boxing brain as well. 'It's got the makings of a barnstormer of a fight. But I can't see it being that, I can see it being a boxing match and me winning comprehensively. 'It's a must-win. It's a must-win for the two of us. 'If I don't win, where do I go? Do I come back down the levels and fight lesser opponents and stuff like that? No. It's not what I'm about. 'I'm in this fight game to be the best and fight the best. So that's the 'A' plan and losing is not an option.'
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Former undisputed world champion Josh Taylor desperate to dine at boxing's top table again
Josh Taylor embarks on his journey of becoming a two-weight world champion in Glasgow this weekend. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 34-year-old makes his debut at welterweight against Ekow Essuman at the Hydro tomorrow night, almost four years to the day since he cleaned up the super lightweight division in Las Vegas with a memorable victory over Jose Ramirez. Edinburgh's Josh Taylor He's dined at boxing's top table once before and boy he is determined to do it all over again. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Prestonpans puncher hasn't fought in 12 months since suffering the second defeat of his professional career, old foe Jack Catterall sealing a unanimous victory at the First Direct Arena in Leeds last May. Lee McGregor faces Nathaniel Collins However, Taylor has had time to reflect on a whirlwind decade - he switched to the professional ranks in 2015 - that culminated in being crowned undisputed world champion in 2021 - the first Briton to do so in the modern four belt-era. And his enthusiasm to reach those heights once more has not waned. "At 140lbs what else was left for me to do? I'd completed boxing in the sense I'd won everything at that weight you could win," Taylor explained. "What else was there for me to do in terms of setting challenges and new goals? There was nothing. What there was, though, was moving up and beginning an assault to becoming a two-time two-weight world champion. And that's what I plan on doing. I need to take out this guy on Saturday first. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Training has been gruesome and hard work, but this week has felt like I'm on holiday with no dieting and cutting weight, going in saunas, sweatsuits and getting the last bit of water out of you. There's been none of that. "I'm full of energy, have got the spring in my step and can't wait to get going tomorrow and get this journey rebooted. I need to take care of business this weekend and then move onto bigger fights in the future. "I feel like the way I've been performing; sparring, the guys we've been getting in at the gym, if I perform how I have been it won't go the distance. I haven't done anything at welterweight and a lot of people are writing me off, but I've got a lot of fire in my belly to prove those people wrong. This is Josh Taylor 2.0 and it starts tomorrow. "The Hydro has been my home since the Commonwealth Games as I've had most of my big fights here so I'm looking forward to getting back. It's been a while so I'm excited to put on a good show." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Capital's Lee McGregor is also in hot pursuit of a world title shot when he faces off against compatriot and Bearsden's Nathaniel Collins for the vacant WBC Silver featherweight title. The 28-year-old has endued a stop-start career of late, but delivered a scintillating display in Saudi Arabia in December to overpower Issac Lowe on the undercard of Tyson Fury's heavyweight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. And the former British and European bantamweight champion appreciates the potential rewards should he prevail tomorrow night. "It's a massive fight," McGregor said. "These are the reasons why we started boxing as young kids. You dream about this kind of night. I've prepared hard and am ready to leave it all in the ring. I feel like the best prepared Lee McGregor can beat anybody in the world at featherweight and Nathaniel Collins is in my way tomorrow night. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Beating him will see me take a huge step towards that so I'm fully focused on doing the job. Not being disrespectful - it's just self-belief - but I feel I'm a better boxer and I can outfight him as well. "It makes for a great fight - our records, achievements, style - everyone has been buzzing for it ever since it was announced. It's going to be exciting but I'm going to take him into deep waters and come out on top. This is for the WBC silver so the winner of this is only going to go on and push for a world title fight so that's all the motivation we both need."
