Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman
Queensberry will make a long-awaited return to Scotland at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow in May when former undisputed world champion Josh Taylor makes his return to the ring at welterweight against WBO European champion Ekow Essuman.
Also featuring on the card is a featherweight cracker between the unbeaten former British champion Nathaniel Collins (15-0, 7 KOs) and former European bantamweight champion Lee McGregor (15-1-1, 11 KOs) in an all-Scottish showdown.
And at cruiserweight, the WBA and IBO Continental champion Aloys Jr (9-1, 8KOs) will take on a Scottish challenge from David Jamieson (13-3, 10 KOs) from East Kilbride.
Further additions to the card will be advised in due course.
Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs), now 34, the former undisputed world champion at super lightweight, steps up to welterweight after being edged out on points in the rematch of his controversial encounter with Jack Catterall in early 2022.
A son of Edinburgh, Taylor made his professional debut back in 2015 following an amateur career that saw him win silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2014 edition. He also featured at the 2012 London Olympics and represented the British Lionhearts in the World Series of Boxing
In just his seventh fight as a pro, Taylor fought for and won the Commonwealth title at super lightweight by defeating Dave Ryan and he defended the title on two occasions, including a memorable domestic classic against Ohara Davies, a fight in which he also became WBC Silver champion.
His WBC Silver status was defended four times against opponents of the stature of Viktor Postal and Ryan Martin before a maiden world title shot came in May 2019.
Ivan Baranchyk was defeated on points in Glasgow, where Taylor became IBF world super lightweight champion and he doubled his world title tally five months later my memorably overcoming the previously unbeaten American Regis Prograis in London.
The Prograis triumph also saw him crowned winner of the World Boxing Super Series.
His next fight saw him become undisputed champion by defeating the again unbeaten Californian Jose Ramirez, the WBC and WBO champion, in Las Vegas.
Then came the first Catterall fight in Glasgow, after which Taylor was unable to maintain all of his world title obligations, but he defended his WBO belt in New York against great American hope Teofimo Lopez, but fell to a decision defeat.
Ekow Essuman (21-1, 8 KOs) is the WBO European welterweight champion, having defeated former holder Owen Cooper in July and another unbeaten challenger, Ben Vaughan in November.
Previously Essuman held the WBC International Silver, British, Commonwealth and IBF European titles.
He waited more than a year to challenge Chris Jenkins for his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles, with postponements delaying his chance until July of 2021. The man nicknamed ‘The Engine’ made no mistake, coming on strong in the middle rounds before the gutsy Welshman was rescued in the eighth round.
He then defended his titles in thrilling fashion, knocking out Danny Ball in the sixth round in October 2021. A left-right combination did the damage and left Ball with a fractured jaw and in agony as he was counted out.
As an amateur, Ekow was a GB Podium squad member, and improved with every fight since turning professional in 2016.
Crucially he holds genuine confidence that he is going to mix it with the very best and impressed again on the big stage in April 2022 when he fought and beat Darren Tetley at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of the big Fury-Whyte showdown.
Essuman reinforced his position in September 2022 when he won his British title outright by making a third successful defence against mandatory challenger Samuel Antwi in Manchester, via a unanimous decision.
In November 2023 in Manchester, Essuman came unstuck for the first time in a fourth defence of his domestic title against Derby rival Harry Scarff as part of the spectacular Magnificent 7 show.
He returned to winning ways in a thriller against Cooper and is now targeting International honours and bidding to climb the WBO rankings.
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WINS
21
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LOSES
1
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DRAW
0
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KOs
8
EkowEssuman
"The Engine"
Fighter ProfileEkow Essuman is the proud WBO European welterweight champion, having defeated former holder Owen Cooper in July.
Previously Essuman held the WBC International Silver, British, Commonwealth and IBF European titles.
He waited more than a year to challenge Chris Jenkins for his British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles, with postponements delaying his chance until July of 2021. The man nicknamed ‘The Engine’ made no mistake, coming on strong in the middle rounds before the gutsy Welshman was rescued in the eighth round.
He then defended his titles in thrilling fashion, knocking out Danny Ball in the sixth round in October 2021. A left-right combination did the damage and left Ball with a fractured jaw and in agony as he was counted out.
As an amateur, Ekow was a GB Podium squad member, and has improved with every fight since turning professional almost 10 years ago.
Crucially he holds genuine confidence that he is going to mix it with the very best and impressed again on the big stage in April 2022 when he fought and beat Darren Tetley at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of the big Fury-Whyte showdown.
He captured the imagination of his promoter Frank Warren, who insists he would be confident matching his man with anyone in the welterweight division.
Essuman reinforced his position in September 2022 when he won his British title outright by making a third successful defence against mandatory challenger Samuel Antwi in Manchester, via a unanimous decision.
In November in Manchester, Essuman came unstuck for the first time in a fourth defence of his domestic title against Derby rival Harry Scarff as part of the spectacular Magnificent 7 show.
Continued on Fighter profile page...
Plus Full Undercard Featuring
Welterweight
19(13)-2-0
Nathaniel Collins15(11)-1-1
WBC International Featherweight Championship
Cruiserweight
9(8)-1-1
David Jamieson13(10)-3-0
WBA International & Commonwealth Silver Cruiserweight Championship
Super-Welterweight
3(0)-0-0
Super-Lightweight
2(2)-0-0
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