Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman didn’t want a win over Josh Taylor to show he was world-class.
In Could, the Nottingham welterweight was ice-cool in a red-hot Glasgow environment, doing all the pieces proper at hand the Scot his third profession defeat. Two months later, Taylor — the previous undisputed super-lightweight champion — introduced his retirement. A notable scalp in additional methods than one for Essuman.
Throughout their beginner days, Taylor certified for the London 2012 Olympics and received Commonwealth gold two years later. Essuman was a part of the GB Boxing Podium Squad and boxed for the British Lionhearts — a gruelling five-round format not for the faint-hearted.
Beating Taylor wasn’t proof, however affirmation of what Essuman already believed, as he defined to Boxing Information.
“Via my previous experiences on Group GB and simply in boxing typically, and the work that I’ve achieved with folks which can be at prime world stage – I do know I’m a world champion. I simply should go on the market and present everybody else I’m a world champion. I do know all the abilities that I’ve. I understand how I exploit them. I belong preventing for world titles.
“In all fact, to a level I knew I used to be of the extent to beat Josh Taylor earlier than I beat him. However clearly beating him simply solidified that, simply as it will anybody else. And preventing on this present in entrance of what’s going to be clearly an enormous viewers.”
That “present” takes place this Saturday (November 15) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — an enormous evening topped by the grudge rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. On the undercard, Essuman (22-1, 8 KOs) meets Taylor’s fiercest rival, Jack “El Gato” Catterall (31-2, 13 KOs), in one of many standout supporting bouts.
So how did it come about?
“We received wind of a proposal from them after which there was a great deal of stuff within the media about it. So I feel the hype received constructed as much as the place folks thought the battle simply needed to be made.”
Essuman admits frustration that his profession hasn’t accelerated as rapidly as he’d hoped after the Taylor victory.
“I’ve undoubtedly been getting my flowers. I feel hardcore boxing followers genuinely know what I’ve achieved. Clearly, folks may say Josh was on the finish of his profession anyway. He undoubtedly didn’t look that means when he got here out for the primary few rounds of the battle. I did that to him — I took that away from him. So it’s simply extra of that basically. I’ve been making ready for a better stage than that. So deliver it on.”
Essuman’s British title reign featured strong home wins over Chris Jenkins, Danny Ball, Darren Tetley, Samuel Antwi and Chris Kongo. Solely “Horrible” Harry Scarff has crushed him. In opposition to Catterall, he faces a fighter whose awkward southpaw type may show equally tough.
Catterall has spent current months in Philadelphia coaching underneath ‘Bozy’ Ennis — father and coach of Jaron Ennis — alongside world-class skills like Stephen Fulton and Andy Cruz. The swap could deliver a extra front-foot model of the Chorley man.
However Essuman is aware of what to anticipate.
“I’ve shared the ring with Jack within the build-up to the Josh Taylor battle. The rationale for that’s I needed to actually have a really feel for what Jack was good at, how awkward Jack was. So I knew the best way to be awkward like that for Josh Taylor. I received a superb really feel for the awkwardness of Jack and what he’s actually good at — the issues that might annoy different folks. I do know what I’m developing towards.
“If he have been to decide on to be extra on the entrance foot, it simply performs into my favour both means. It received’t make a distinction. He may assume I would simply be there in entrance of him. However he’s simply going to find out about all the opposite quivers in my bow.”
Essuman is ranked No.3 by the WBO, with Catterall at No.8. It’s not a world title eliminator, nevertheless it carries that type of weight. Defeat could be a significant setback — notably for 36-year-old Essuman, who can’t afford to rebuild at this stage.
After dismantling Taylor, ‘The Engine’ is able to motor once more. It might take one thing particular from Catterall to cease him.
