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Josh Taylor vs. Ekow Essuman: Preview & Prediction

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By James Lupton | Last updated May 22, 2025 8:08 PM ET

Josh Taylor returns to Glasgow looking to rebuild his career at a new weight class, 147 lbs., heading back to a successful and familiar stomping ground at the OVO Hydro. In the opposite corner is Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman (21-1, 8 KOs), a relentless, come-forward pressure fighter who will be looking to upset a nation from the away corner.

‘The Tartan Tornado’ (19-2, 13 KOs) will be hoping to return to winning ways after losing his last two bouts to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall, making it over three years since his last victory, hoping the move to welterweight is the answer to his recent problems. Training out of Liverpool’s Rotunda Gym, Taylor is one of the high-profile role models for the next wave of champions under the tutelage of top and underrated coach Joe McNally.

Can Josh Taylor Have a Throwback Performance?

“Training has been gruesome and hard, hard work, but it feels like I am at holiday camp this week.” At the Fight Week press conference, the former undisputed 140 lb. king said, “No dieting, cutting weight or drying out tonight, getting the last bit of water you can out of you. There is none of that this week. I am full of beans, full of energy with a spring in my step. I can’t wait to get going on Saturday.

“I will get this journey rebooted and kickstarted again. Take care of business on Saturday, do it in a good fashion, and look forward to moving on to big fights in the future.

“At 140 lbs., what else was there left for me to do? I’d completed boxing in a sense and won every single belt in boxing you can win. What else was there for me in terms of challenges and setting new targets? There was nothing to do. So, what there was, was moving up with an assault on becoming a two-time, two-weight world champion.

“I am planning on taking this guy out on Saturday, and that is what I’m going to do.”

Ekow Essuman Looks To Play Spoiler

Essuman, a former British champion, has been in search of a “big name” to be stood toe-to-toe with after a fight with Conor Benn never materialized back in 2022. Taylor will provide Botswana’s ‘Engine’ with a high-level operator who he feels will bring out the best of him. Coming off the back of defeating two undefeated prospects, Essuman has proven that he has plenty left in his tank to compete at the highest level.

The man from Edinburgh has claimed he will look to take the 36-year-old out, something that has not been achieved in 22 professional bouts, and the Nottingham fighter stated at the Fight Week press conference he hopes that is the case. “I don’t take offense to it. It is what it is. He’s in my way; I’m in his way.

“Of course he believes it, he should. That is good if he wants to try and end it early, it might be to his detriment. We are going to find out on Saturday. I came prepared for the best Josh Taylor there can be, so this is just confirming what I thought would come.”

Josh Taylor vs. Ekow Essuman Prediction

With a 68.42% knockout ratio, Taylor may well believe in his power and ability to stop Saturday night’s foe, but questions will be asked, not just whether or not he can carry his power up a weight class but also how will he deal with a naturally bigger, heavier and stronger opponent.

Essuman is nicknamed ‘The Engine’ for a good reason: the man is relentless. This is the type of fight he has been searching for all his career, and he will relish this opportunity, knowing what doors could open for him with victory, making him a live dog in this fight. However, Essuman has not experienced boxing at a world-class level and has only been the 12-round distance on four occasions.

Experience will be key in this bout as we predict Taylor to be victorious via a unanimous decision after a fast start from Essuman. Taylor’s know-how sees him go through the gears and control the championship rounds.