Shock Essuman Win Casts Doubt Over Taylor Future

Josh Taylor's first foray into nan welterweight section ended successful a daze conclusion by Ekow Essuman successful Glasgow, leaving superior questions surrounding nan erstwhile undisputed world champion's early successful nan sport.

Taylor started brightly and had nan Englishman wounded early on, but Essuman grew into nan conflict and vanished nan stronger to gain nan determination connected each 3 judges' scorecards.

It's a career-best triumph for nan Nottingham fighter, but 1 that poses questions astir what is adjacent for nan Scot.

Four years connected from his crowning glory erstwhile he defeated Jose Ramirez successful Las Vegas to go nan UK's first – and still only – undisputed champion of nan four-belt era, Taylor was looking to reinject immoderate momentum backmost into a profession that had stalled.

Back-to-back defeats by Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall meant Taylor desperately needed to measurement up into nan welterweight section pinch a victory.

He emerged to a tremendous ovation from nan crowd successful Glasgow, a metropolis wherever truthful galore of his top nights person taken place, and had nan fans disconnected their seats pinch an fierce start, catching Essuman pinch immoderate bully shots.

Essuman took those good and came retired accelerated successful nan 3rd round, connecting pinch a large correct manus that snapped backmost Taylor's caput backmost and nonstop a connection he was present to fight.

Then came nan explosive fourth. Taylor sent Essuman back-pedalling towards nan ropes pinch a peach of a shot, only for Essuman to respond successful benignant and wobble Taylor pinch a consecutive correct hand.

The mediate rounds saw nan gait slow significantly, though a nasty trim opened astir Taylor's near oculus successful nan seventh, perchance from a conflict of heads.

Encouraged by nan show of humor moving down his opponent's face. Essuman came connected beardown successful nan eighth, backing Taylor up and uncovering gaps successful his defence.

The underdog was picking good his moments to strike, though Taylor's greater output possibly conscionable edged nan ninth.

Essuman's correct manus recovered nan bullseye again respective times successful nan 10th arsenic Taylor looked to beryllium tiring.

The last information looked for illustration it could beryllium captious connected nan scorecards, and while nan location crowd looked to rouse their leader for 1 past effort, neither combatant could onshore nan decisive blow.

The scorecards of 116-113, 116-112, and 115-113 were met pinch dismay - though not disbelief - by nan fans successful nan Hydro, who are now near to wonderment if they will spot nan Tartan Tornado successful a ringing again.

Heavyweight imaginable Moses Itauma continued his accelerated emergence pinch different objection of his bonzer power. The 20-year-old floored nan American Mike Balogun 3 times en way to a second-round stoppage.

There was plentifulness of Scottish liking connected nan undercard, not slightest nan highly-anticipated featherweight conflict betwixt Lee McGregor and Nathaniel Collins.

Most expected a tight affair, but Glasgow combatant Collins produced a scintillating capacity to driblet his Edinburgh rival 3 times, pinch McGregor's area throwing successful nan towel successful information four.

Welterweight Reese Lynch, a golden medallist for Scotland astatine nan 2022 Commonwealth Games, stepped into nan pro ranks successful awesome style pinch a second-round stoppage of Jonatas de Oliveira.

Aston Brown became nan caller Scottish middleweight champion pinch a devastating first-round knockout of Reece Porter.

Former world champion Alex Arthur was ringside to spot his son, besides Alex, people his master debut pinch a ascendant points triumph complete Robbie Chapman successful a four-round contest.

Drew Limond, boy of nan precocious Willie Limond, besides prevailed connected points. The 19-year-old controlled nan 4 rounds against Argentine combatant Ezequiel Gregores.

East Kilbride cruiserweight David Jamieson was taken retired successful 3 rounds by nan heavy-handed Aloys Junior.