Josh Taylor said today that the reason he decided to go to Welterweight on Saturday 24 May for his fight against Ekow Essuman is because he has nothing for me to do. He mentioned that he won all four belts at 140, which is true, but that he did not consider his recent consecutive losses.
(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Do-of-death for Josh Taylor
Taylor (19-2, 13 costs) comes in his fight against the Essuman at the domestic level (21-1, 8 COs) in a career situation. Losing to the 36-year-old Essuman would be a clear sign that Josh’s career is over.
Taylor-Essuman meets this Saturday in a 10-round competition at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The Scotland-born Taylor will make the Scottish crowd eat out of his hand, but it may not matter. Taylor seems to be fighting about 60% of the capacity he had during his best years of his career. It may not be enough for even a low-level opponent like Essuman.
‘At 140 pounds, which was still there for me to do? I completed box box in a sense and won every belt in box that you can win, “Josh Taylor said at today’s last press conference for his fight against Ekow Essuman.” What was there for me about challenges, to set new targets? There was nothing to do.
Taylor’s excuse to move up to Welterweight is weak. Instead of just saying, ‘I’m moving up because I’m desperate. I lost my last two battles, and I’m not good enough to beat the murderers at 140, ‘he must have said, “I’m moving up because I’m desperate. I lost my last two fights, and I’m not good enough to beat the killers at 140. ‘Choosing an easy brand like Essuman is a back -through strategy for Josh to try to position himself for a payday against Conor Benn, Devin Haney or Ryan Garcia.
However, none of the guys will bother Taylor unless he beat someone firmly like Shakhram Giyasov, which he won’t do. His promoter is not going to hold Taylor with a talent and watches him finish. Heck, he might not even make it past Essuman.
“I intend to take this man out on Saturday, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Taylor said.
