Shockwaves in Glasgow: Essuman Unseats Taylor
Far from the routine defense everyone expected, Josh Taylor’s homecoming in Glasgow turned into a scene of high drama and disbelief. Packed into the buzzing SSE Hydro, fans came to watch their Scottish hero reassert himself in the welterweight ranks. Instead, Ekow Essuman ripped up the script, handing the former undisputed light welterweight champ a strikingly clear defeat on the judges’ scorecards—117-111 across the board.
Most boxing insiders saw Taylor as a lock. Bookmakers had him at 3/10 odds to win, and every poll—formal and casual—said much the same. The atmosphere radiated confidence, with predictions pegging Taylor to cruise. But from the third round on, Essuman started writing a different story. After a couple rounds where Taylor’s jab and sharp combinations had him looking a class above, the Nottingham-based challenger stopped waiting and started hunting.
Essuman's relentless style forced Taylor into mistakes, draining the Scot’s energy. The real twist came in round seven, when a clash of heads opened a nasty cut under Taylor’s left eyebrow. The sight of blood shifted the momentum—and the mood ringside. For Taylor, every shot landed after that seemed just a touch heavier, and every movement just a little slower. Essuman sensed the change and upped his tempo, digging to the body and keeping Taylor circling defensively.
The Fight’s Turning Point: Grit, Blood, and a New Contender
By the eighth, it looked less like a champion’s rebound and more like a slow unraveling. Taylor’s corner poured encouragement in his ear, but the spark just wasn’t there. Essuman, smelling blood figuratively and literally, doubled his pressure. His attacks in rounds 9 and 10 left Taylor shelled up, landing straight rights and crisp hooks. At times, Taylor’s feet seemed to betray him—he was fighting exhaustion and frustration as much as his opponent.
Ringside, the narrative shifted with every round. The SSE Hydro crowd—initially roaring with certainty—grew quieter, sensing the upset building. Taylor’s best moments were now behind him, and Essuman refused to let him regain control. Even as Taylor tried to rally late, the cut and fatigue made effective combinations rare. The final rounds belonged wholly to the challenger, his high work rate forcing Taylor into desperate clinches and scrambled defenses.
When the final bell rang, the crowd held its breath, but the judges’ tally underlined what everyone watching knew: Essuman wasn’t just winning rounds, he was dominating late. For Taylor, this result throws his welterweight ambitions into question. The man once crowned king at 140 pounds suddenly looked vulnerable against fresh, hungry opposition.
- Essuman’s win snatches the spotlight in the packed welterweight class. He didn’t just collect a belt—he seized respect, breathing new life into his career.
- Taylor faces a tough path. Is it a temporary misstep or something more? At 34, time isn’t on his side if he needs to rebuild.
- With upset losses becoming more common in boxing, fans are reminded again that stars are made—and sometimes unmade—when you least expect it.
This Glasgow bout will be poured over by pundits and fans alike for months, with Essuman now a name no one can ignore at welterweight.
Write a comment