Ekow Essuman scored an upset unanimous-decision win against Josh Taylor on Saturday night in his return to Glasgow, Scotland.
The judges scored it 116-113, 116-112, and 115-113 to hand Taylor (19-3, 13 KOs) a third consecutive defeat. Essuman’s (22-1, 8 KOs) career was derailed when losing his British and Commonwealth straps to Harry Scarff 18 months ago, but he rebounded with national-level victories over Owen Cooper and Ben Vaughan.
Taylor, the former undisputed ruler at 140 pounds, who was making the first appearance in his native Scotland for more than three years, was also making his debut at welterweight following back-to-back defeats to Teofimo Lopez and in a rematch with bitter rival Jack Catterall. Nottingham’s Essuman, a former British and Commonwealth champion, was chosen by Taylor’s new promoter, Frank Warren, as the man to bring Scotland’s biggest fighter back in front of a packed-out SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow.
Taylor started to let his hands go in the first round, landing a good right to the body, forcing Essuman back to the ropes to the delight of the local crowd. Essuman would return with a good right hand, but Taylor responded with more combinations at speed and finished strong with shots to the body and head as the bell rang.
Taylor continued on the front foot to start the second, but Essuman would land a quick right hand. However, Taylor would respond with a left to the body, again forcing Essuman back to the ropes. Taylor Would continue to press, landing a good combination halfway through the round. Essuman would attempt to steal the round, but Taylor landed four big shots to the body at the close.
Essuman came out as the aggressor to open round three, forcing Taylor into the corner with wild body shots on the inside. Taylor slowed the action behind his jab, but Essuman would land a good right hand. Taylor came back with a right to the temple to slow Essuman’s advance. The Scotsman would see out the rest of the round in front, landing more shots to the body and closing with a left hand despite Essuman sneaking his own right through the guard.
Taylor landed a left hook to the top of the head to start the fourth and would press the pace following his worst round. Taylor stepped forward to land a big overhand left, forcing Essuman to stumble back and cover up. Essuman held on and got to work behind his jab and landed a big right hand, stunning Taylor and forcing him into defensive mode. Taylor quickly recovered to end the round strong, still forcing the pace of the fight.
WAR in Glasgow! ⚔️
Josh Taylor and Ekow Essuman trade BIG shots! 🔥#TaylorEssuman | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/cGmeM5spqK
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 24, 2025
The pace slowed in the fifth, with Essuman holding his ground as Taylor opted for a period working largely off the backfoot. However, Taylor would land an eye-catching right hand around the guard to end an otherwise quiet round. The sixth saw little action, but Essuman was the more active who continued to stand his ground. Essuman landed a straight right to open the seventh and continued to press on the front foot, forcing a combination to the body with Taylor pinned on the ropes. Taylor responded with a good right hook to the body. However, Essuman sunk in another body shot combination to finish in another close round.
The eighth was uneventful until Essuman landed a right to the head close to the minute mark. The Londer again worked hard through the round, landing another right hand as Taylor’s early pace had gone. Essuman started the ninth strong, forcing Taylor to the corner to land two jabs and work the body. Taylor landed a right hook on the inside, but Essuman again responded with a left-right combination. The pair traded body shots in the final minute as Essuman grew in confidence.
Essuman continued to press forward, letting his hands go at will to start the tenth, and landed a good uppercut. However, Taylor stung back to life with a good left to the head, followed shortly by a right to the body. Essuman responded with another sharp right to the head and also caught Taylor with a big left hook as the pair traded until the bell. The eleventh was extremely sluggish as Essuman kept throwing the overhand right, which Taylor struggled to avoid due to tiredness.
Taylor found some energy to start the twelfth round with a good combination to the body and was tying up Essuman well to stop the constant attacks. Taylor stuck behind his jab and continued to tie up his opponent at every opportunity until the final bell.
Moses Itauma Continues Knockout Streak, and Nathaniel Collins Claims A Stoppage Victory
In chief support, Nathaniel Collins secured the WBC silver featherweight with a fourth-round stoppage victory against national rival Lee McGregor. Big things were expected from McGregor (15-2-1, 11 KOs) at the start of his career, but his first knockout loss and second career defeat leaves him far from his world title ambitions. Collins (17-0, 8 KOs) edges closer to a shot against WBC world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. following his biggest win to date. He currently sits at fourth place in the WBC rankings.
IT’S OVER‼️
Nathaniel Collins KNOCKS DOWN Lee McGregor THREE times in round 4!!! 😱#TaylorEssuman | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/simDEB1Q3N
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 24, 2025
After three closely fought rounds, Collins found a way through in the fourth, dropping McGregor three times on the way to a stoppage victory at 1:45. Collins landed a right hook on the inside to force McGregor to hold on and eventually fell to the canvas to receive the count, but was on his feet at 6. Collins immediately pounced as play resumed, landing a left to the body and right to the chin to send his opponent to the floor for a second time. Reluctantly back on his feet, McGregor was met by a left to the body from Collins. The towel came in as McGregor slumped to the floor.
British heavyweight hopeful Moses Itauma continued his destructive form with a second-round knockout victory against 41-year-old American Mike Balogun. The 20-year-old southpaw has made the heavyweight division take notice with early knockout victories over Mariusz Wach and Demsey McKean in his last two outings. He continued the hype in Glasgow with another highlight stoppage win.
THAT WAS ALL SHE WROTE!!!!!
‼️Moses Itauma beats Mike Balogun‼️
Via NASTY KO in Round 2!#Boxing#BOXINGnBBQ
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) May 24, 2025
Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) had Balogun (21-2, 16 KOs) on the canvas inside the first half of the opening round with a straight left hand to the head. The American would get to his feet to see the end of the round, but he was on his back for the second time early in the second from a big right hook. Balogun just about made it to his feet on the count of 9, but Itauma soon finished the job with a decisive right hook to the chin of the incoming Balogun. The official time of the stoppage was 00:46.
Lower down on the undercard, London’s Aloys Youmibi claimed the vacant Commonwealth cruiserweight title with an impressive third-round knockout win against East Kilbride’s David Jamieson. Youmbi (10-1, 9 KOs) floored Jamieson (13-4, 10 KOs) in all three rounds before getting the early victory at 1:54.
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