Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman didn’t need a win over Josh Taylor to prove he was world-class.
In May, the Nottingham welterweight was ice-cool in a red-hot Glasgow atmosphere, doing everything right to hand the Scot his third career defeat. Two months later, Taylor — the former undisputed super-lightweight champion — announced his retirement. A notable scalp in more ways than one for Essuman.
During their amateur days, Taylor qualified for the London 2012 Olympics and won Commonwealth gold two years later. Essuman was 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, but confirmation of what Essuman already believed, as he explained to Boxing News.
“Through my past experiences on Team GB and just in boxing in general, and the work that I’ve done with people that are at top world level – I know I’m a world champion. I just have to go out there and show everyone else I’m a world champion. I know all the skills that I have. I know how I use them. I belong fighting for world titles.
“In all truth, to a degree I knew I was of the level to beat Josh Taylor before I beat him. But obviously beating him just solidified that, just as it would anyone else. And fighting on this show in front of what’s going to be obviously a massive audience.”
That “show” takes place this Saturday (November 15) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — a huge night 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 the standout supporting bouts.
So how did it come about?
“We got wind of an offer from them and then there was loads of stuff in the media about it. So I think the hype got built up to where people thought the fight just had to be made.”
Essuman admits frustration that his career hasn’t accelerated as quickly as he’d hoped after the Taylor victory.
“I’ve definitely been getting my flowers. I think hardcore boxing fans genuinely know what I’ve achieved. Obviously, people might say Josh was at the end of his career anyway. He definitely didn’t look that way when he came out for the first few rounds of the fight. I did that to him — I took that away from him. So it’s just more of that really. I’ve been preparing for a higher level than that. So bring it on.”
Essuman’s British title reign featured solid domestic wins over Chris Jenkins, Danny Ball, Darren Tetley, Samuel Antwi and Chris Kongo. Only “Horrible” Harry Scarff has beaten him. Against Catterall, he faces a fighter whose awkward southpaw style could prove equally tricky.
Catterall has spent recent months in Philadelphia training under ‘Bozy’ Ennis — father and trainer of Jaron Ennis — alongside world-class talents like Stephen Fulton and Andy Cruz. The switch may bring a more front-foot version of the Chorley man.
But Essuman knows what to expect.
“I’ve shared the ring with Jack in the build-up to the Josh Taylor fight. The reason for that is I wanted to really have a feel for what Jack was good at, how awkward Jack was. So I knew how to be awkward like that for Josh Taylor. I got a good feel for the awkwardness of Jack and what he’s really good at — the things that would annoy other people. I know what I’m coming up against.
“If he were to choose to be more on the front foot, it just plays into my favour either way. It won’t make a difference. He might think I might just be there in front of him. But he’s just going to learn about all the other quivers in my bow.”
Essuman is ranked No.3 by the WBO, with Catterall at No.8. It’s not a world title eliminator, but it carries that kind of weight. Defeat would be a major setback — particularly for 36-year-old Essuman, who can’t afford to rebuild at this stage.
After dismantling Taylor, ‘The Engine’ is ready to motor again. It may take something special from Catterall to stop him.