Josh Taylor needed an exciting debut at welterweight — and Essuman fits the bill. An orthodox fighter (against Taylor’s southpaw stance), Essuman enjoys engaging in exchanges, often working in short bursts of aggression and showing solid physical strength. A fitting test to determine whether Taylor truly belongs in this new weight class.

This is a matchup between two seasoned fighters: Taylor is 34, while Essuman is 36. But when it comes to overall experience, Josh is miles ahead — a participant in the World Boxing Super Series, a former undisputed world champion, and a name etched in boxing history.

That said, Essuman has been the more successful recently — riding a two-fight win streak, while Taylor is coming off back-to-back losses.

While Essuman is generally more of a counterpuncher than an all-out attacker, his most recent outing tells a different story: he averaged over 61 punches per round, frequently surpassing 85–90 — impressive numbers for a 36-year-old.

Even in his prime, Taylor rarely reached that output, averaging 45–60 punches per round. The contrast is notable, especially with age now affecting both men.

Here, Essuman has the edge. Two fights in 2024, two wins. In contrast, Taylor fought only once in 2023 and once in 2024 — and lost both. Even back in 2022, when he first fought Jack Catterall, Taylor didn’t look quite like the fighter he once was.

The stats don’t fully reflect how these two deliver their punches. Both Essuman and Taylor are capable of hurting opponents, but knockouts are not their primary objective.

Stylistically, they focus more on the accumulated impact of their punches rather than seeking a single finishing shot. Their goal is control, not destruction.

Historically, both have shown good chins. Yes, Catterall did shake Taylor a few times, but nothing conclusive. The concern, however, lies in cumulative wear and tear. With age and tough fights, the ability to absorb punishment inevitably declines — meaning the risk of a stoppage is now higher than in their younger days.

This entire event is built as a comeback showcase for Taylor, and a debut at welterweight. He’s fighting at home — he’s the star here. The last time he boxed in Glasgow was back in 2022, when he controversially edged Catterall.

Now, he returns to that same setting with redemption in mind.

Essuman has the opportunity to retire Scotland’s biggest boxing star — and do it in front of Taylor’s home crowd. That’s massive motivation — and a chance to cash in big before closing out his own career.

As for Taylor, he’s looked like a man at the end of his rope in recent fights — physically worn and seemingly unmotivated. But he insists it was all down to weight issues.

And who are we to say otherwise?

This fight holds the answers. A loss — and it’s over. A win — and Taylor might just catch the last train to relevance in his new weight class.