Josh Taylor’s quest to develop into a two-weight world champion hit an on the spot velocity bump with defeat to Ekow Essuman on the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
The 34-year-old former undisputed junior welterweight champion misplaced his earlier two bouts to Jack Catterall and Teofimo Lopez earlier than making the choice to maneuver as much as 147lbs.
Taylor’s debut at welterweight got here towards the wily 36-year-old WBO European champion and though the Prestonpans fighter began brightly, he was slowly subdued and floor down by Essuman who gained unanimously, the judges scoring 116-113, 116-112 and 115-112.
Up for grabs was the vacant WBO International Welterweight Championship and the Glasgow area rocked with enthusiasm on the first bell.
Botswana-born Essuman, who fights out of Nottingham, was instantly stalked by the Scotsman and a left hand discovered the goal to additional cheers from the supportive house crowd.
Taylor saved on the entrance foot, his jab controlling the space however he was put beneath stress for a spell within the third spherical as Essuman confirmed his wares for the primary time which had the gang gasping in some shock.
Taylor was quickly again within the ascendancy and several other extra lefts acquired by means of the guard.
Essuman was despatched towards the ropes by a swift Taylor assault however he immediately responded with highly effective pictures which had the Scot reeling towards the ropes.
Spherical 5 noticed grappling between the 2 fighters for the primary time actually, whereas Essuman gave the impression to be rising in confidence and perception, a sturdy proper hand catching his opponent whereas backed towards the ropes.
It was Taylor’s flip to backpedal as Essuman moved ahead slowly with menace and notably the gang had quietened.
Essuman continued to work diligently on Taylor, who slowing down, definitely missing the sooner zip and his left eye seemed to have opened up from a conflict of heads.
By spherical eight, Taylor’s followers realised he was in an actual robust encounter.
Essuman, remaining calm and calculated along with his defence on level, was discovering gaps in Taylor’s defence, particularly along with his ramrod proper hand, which landed once more within the ninth spherical and within the subsequent around the Prestonpans boxer once more discovered himself on the ropes taking some temporary punishment.
The gang tried to rally Taylor but it surely was Essuman who completed the spherical with one other flurry.
The eleventh spherical introduced a few combos from Essuman with Taylor dancing away to security however the Nottingham fighter definitely appeared to complete the bout stronger to ship the Scotsman again to the drafting board.
