Latest news with #welterweight
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Ekow Essuman? Fight record, stats, next bout and more
Josh Taylor makes a foray into the welterweight division to fight Ekow Essuman at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow this weekend live on DAZN. The Scot leaves his former 140lbs kingdom behind after back-to-back losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall. Ahead of him is staunch opposition in the form of WBO European titleholder, Ekow Essuman, a former British champion with only one blemish on his record. DAZN has everything you need to know about Essuman ahead of his clash with Taylor. Who is Ekow Essuman? What is Ekow Essuman's record? Before turning pro, Essuman was a well-regarded amateur who boxed internationally alongside studying for a marketing, design and communications degree. But the Nottingham man was destined for the professional ranks with his coaches telling him had a style suited for the paid game. Essuman told FightPos t in 2020: 'As an amateur, coaches always regarded my style as more of a professional style than an amateur point scoring style.' The Botswanan-born Brit made his debut in 2016 by beating Andrej Cepur on points in Birmingham. He would continue unbeaten, claiming the English welterweight title in 2018 by knocking out Andy Keates in the fifth round. After four fights, including two defences of his English title, Essuman collected another belt by outpointing Cedrick Peynaud at York Hall to become the IBF European welterweight champion in 2020. The British and Commonwealth titles were next for Essuman who broke Chris Jenkins's ribs on his way to an eighth-round stoppage at Wembley Arena. Now in possession of three titles and becoming a name in the welterweight division, the Nottingham fighter made four successful defences of his trinkets before he suffered an upset defeat to Harry Scarff on points in 2023. Essuman took eight months out of the ring before returning in 2024 to claim the WBO European title by stopping Owen Cooper in the tenth round. He has since beaten Ben Vaughan to remain in possession of his title. When is Ekow Essuman's next fight? Ekow Essuman returns to the ring this weekend to initiate Josh Taylor into the welterweight ranks, away from home, at the OVO Hydro Arena. The pair will headline the card promoted by Queensberry Promotions. The fights will be shown live on DAZN with coverage for the main card starting at 7pm BST. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Where is Josh Taylor positioned in the welterweight division?
This is Taylor's first fight at welterweight after consecutive losses to Jack Catterall and Teofimo Lopez at 140lbs. The 34-year-old will be hoping for an accelerated run towards a world title given his status as a former undisputed champion. First, he will have to get through a veteran welterweight in Essuman to establish himself in the division. With that in mind, we break down where Taylor is currently positioned at welterweight and who his obstacles to becoming a two-weight world champion are. Watch Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman exclusively with a DAZN subscription. . The kings of the welterweight division The welterweight division is currently topped by three champions: Brian Norman Jr (WBO), Jaron Ennis (WBA, IBF and The Ring) and Mario Barrios (WBC). Norman Jr, 27-0 (21), had his interim title elevated to full champion status after Terence Crawford vacated to fight at super welterweight in 2024. He has since defended his belt against Derrick Cuevas in March of this year and is scheduled to fight the number 2 ranked Jin Sasaki on the 19th of June in Tokyo. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, 34-0 (30), is the unified welterweight champion, in possession of The Ring, WBA and IBF world titles. Ennis' interim title was upgraded in 2023 when Crawford was stripped by the IBF for not agreeing to fight the Philadelphia man as his mandatory. After defending his title by forcing David Avenesyan to retire, he had a unification bout with Eimantas Stanionis in April this year, claiming his WBA belt and the vacant The Ring championship. Mario Barrios, 29-2-1 (18), was also a beneficiary of Crawford vacating his welterweight titles, becoming a fully-fledged champion in June 2024. He has only fought once since, in a draw with Abel Ramos six months ago in Texas. He will defend his WBC title in a controversial fight against the 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao in July. Where is Taylor Ranked? With a well-established hierarchy in the welterweight division after the chaos of Crawford's departure, where is the Scot ranked as a welterweight? BoxRec have Taylor ranked at number four among the British welterweights behind Jack Catterall, Lewis Crocker and Harlem Eubank. Among the four major organisations, the former undisputed super lightweight champion has been ranked just outside the top ten with the WBO, the title he last held before losing to Teofimo Lopez, and the WBC, who both place him at number eleven. Although winning this fight could be the key to unlock world title opportunities at welterweight, Taylor is not looking past Essuman, admitting it will be a challenging debut at welterweight. Taylor told ESPN: "Get the win this weekend then I'm in the mix for some big fights at welterweight, but I'm not thinking about that because Ekow's a very tough test," he explains. He's tried and Commonwealth and British champion so I'll have my hands full."
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Harlem Eubank set for toughest test yet with Jack Catterall fight being finalised
Harlem Eubank 's next step on his quest for a world title shot looks to have been established, with the welterweight set to face former contender Jack Catterall in July. The Ring magazine reports that a deal is close to being finalised for the pair to go head-to-head at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, July 5. The 31-year-old Eubank, 21-0 (9), moves from light-welterweight to welterweight in November, debuting in the weight class by decisioning Nurali Erdogan. Backed by Wasserman and his uncle Chris Eubank Sr, Eubank garnered further experience at welterweight with a technical knockout of Tyrone McKenna in March, knocking the Scot down three times prior to a stoppage in the 10th round. Currently holder of the IBF inter-continental belt at 147 pounds and previously WBO global champion at super lightweight, Eubank has long spoken of his ambitions of becoming a world champion. Catterall, 30-2 (13), came close to becoming undisputed champion at super lightweight, ending up on the end of a controversial split decision loss to Josh Taylor in February 2022. A rematch two years later saw Catterall gain a unanimous decision victory. The 31-year-old moved on from the super lightweight division after losing to the previously undefeated Arnold Barboza Jr in February 2025 on a split decision. That means the proposed fight with Eubank will be his first at welterweight since three bouts between 2019 and 2020. Based on his opponent's pedigree, Eubank will face the toughest test of his career against Catterall. 2025 has been a busy year for the Eubank family. Chris Eubank Jr earned a unanimous decision victory over Conor Benn in one of the most notable fights of the year, with a rematch rumoured for the autumn.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Frank Warren talks Josh Taylor and Ekow Essuman
Promoter Frank Warren has given his thoughts on the upcoming match between Josh Taylor and Ekow Essuman, saying that the Scottish fighter will be 'tested' by his opponent on Saturday night. Writing on the Queensberry Promotions website, Warren said that the move to welterweight was a 'new beginning' for Taylor, who moves to the new division after back-to-back losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall. The fight against Essuman, 21-1 (8), will be for the vacant WBO international welterweight title. Warren wrote: 'I am delighted to have Josh as a Queensberry fighter for his welterweight journey, and he will be tested, believe me, by his opponent in Ekow Essuman tonight.' He added: 'Ekow is a proper fighter and someone I hold in the highest regard. He has been with us a long time and has delivered the goods, winning plenty of titles and always giving entertainment value to the fans. If it wasn't for a slip-up at the end of 2023, Ekow would have fought for a world title by now, but he has built himself back and taken part in two thrilling fights since then.' Warren reiterated that he thought Taylor, 19-2 (13), had more to achieve in his boxing career after being undisputed champion at 140lbs. He wrote: 'Josh's journey is well chronicled. He has suffered misfortune in his last couple of fights, but he is Scotland's Undisputed King, and nobody can ever take that away from him. However, Josh and ourselves are convinced that he has plenty more to give and that his welterweight voyage will come to a successful conclusion.' The fight against Essuman will mark Taylor's debut at 147lbs. The Edinburgh man has moved up to welterweight following world titles at light-welterweight. He won his first title in 2019 with a points decision over Ivan Baranchyk. He followed this with successful defences against Regis Prograis, Apinun Khongsong, Jose Carlos Ramirez, and Jack Catterall. Taylor's initial win over Catterall, at the same venue he fights in on Saturday night, was a controversial one with many feeling that Catterall lost a bad decision. Taylor then went to New York to fight Teofimo Lopez but was beaten decisively on points at a raucous Theater at Madison Square Garden. (Queensberry Promotions) Upon returning to UK shores, Taylor went into a rematch with Catterall, losing a unanimous decision over twelve rounds at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Cut to this week, and Warren has also turned his thoughts to the undercard for Saturday's event in Glasgow, upon which Nathaniel Collins, Lee McGregor, and Moses Itauma will feature. Such is Warren's confidence in Itauma that he believes the Slovakia-born British fighter may fight for a world title before the end of the year. Warren said: 'This young man is very, very special and I am delighted to bring him to Scotland.'
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
First details of Catterall-Eubank undercard emerge
The undercard of Jack Catterall's bout with Harlem Eubank on Saturday, July 5, is slowly being filled out. Catterall, 30-2 (13), makes his welterweight debut against Harlem Eubank, 21-0 (9), in Manchester this summer, with the card set to be shown live on DAZN. Eubank, the nephew of Chris Sr and the cousin of Chris Jr, has been fighting in the 147 division since beginning his career in 2017. Catch all the latest boxing action on DAZN With the headliners confirmed, Matchroom have announced that super featherweight Aqib Faiz, 13-1 (2), will face Michael Gomez Jr, 21-2 (6). Both were in action on the same card in February, with Gomez Jr losing to British and Commonwealth super featherweight champion Reece Bellotti, and Faiz knocking out Lydon Chircop. Faiz was also defeated by Bellotti, retiring in the eighth round as he lost out on the vacant Commonwealth strap in 2023. Highly rated teenager Leo Atang looks set to make his professional debut on the card. His opponent is not yet named. A super heavyweight in the unpaid code, Atang won eight of his 16 victories via knockout, losing just once as an amateur. Such success brought Atang five national championships, as well as victory at the World Boxing under-19 world championships in 2024. Pat Brown, who was spotted carrying Dave Allen on his shoulder following his stablemate's victory over Johnny Fisher last weekend, has also been confirmed as fighting on the card. Having fought at heavyweight for Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, Brown made his professional debut in March of this year as a cruiserweight. Brown ended his first fight as a pro early, stopping Federico Javier Grandone in the fourth round. The 25-year-old had been slated to appear on Matchroom's show in Birmingham two weeks before, on the undercard of Shabaz's Masoud's clash with Peter McGrail. Alfie Middlemiss is a Manchester lad with a perfect start to his pro career, with three wins from three fights that all went the distance. His opponent is TBA. William Crolla is the most experienced fighter out of the three prospects currently without opponents. The super welterweight, 8-0 (6), made his pro bow in 2023, and is no stranger to fighting in his hometown of Manchester, having fought at the AO Arena twice, the Co-op Live Arena twice, and the Bowlers Exhibition Centre once. Crolla has not ventured far from Lancashire, with Liverpool the furthest he has travelled in his professional career. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
