Boxing Results: Josh Taylor Upset By Ekow Essuman

Former undisputed World Light Welterweight champion Josh ‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor (19-3, 13 KOs) was upset by the former British, Commonwealth, IBF Euro and WBC International Silver Welterweight champion Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman (22-1, 8 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

In the first two rounds, Taylor outworked Essuman. Both had moments in the third round, with Essuman taking a close round. In the fourth round’s halfway point, Taylor landed a left on the chin, driving Essuman back several steps. Seconds later, it was Essuman landing a right on the chin of Taylor, rocking him. Another close round to Taylor.

In the fifth round, it went back and forth. In the final minute, Taylor landed a combination to the chin of Essuman, rocking him. In the seventh round’s final seconds, Taylor was cut under the left eyebrow from a clash of heads—Essuman’s round.

Essuman seemed to have an edge in another close fight in the eighth round. In the ninth round Essuman landed a right knocking the head of Taylor back with a minute remaining. My card is 5-4 Taylor at this point. In the tenth round’s midway point, Taylor landed five straight punches. In the final minute, Essuman finished strong, but not enough to take a close round.

In the eleventh round, the action continued with Taylor doing well early and Essuman later. I have it 6-5 Taylor going into the twelfth and final round again, back and forth, who was getting the better of it. Did Essuman do enough for the upset, or would it end in a draw?

The scores were 116-113, 117-112, and 115-113. Bob Williams was the referee.

WBC No. 4 ranked, former Commonwealth, EBU Silver featherweight champion southpaw Nathaniel ‘The Nightmare’ Collins (18-0, 9 KOs) scored three knockdowns, stopping WBC International featherweight champ ‘Lightning’ Lee McGregor (15-2-1, 11 KOs) at 1:45 of the fourth round of a scheduled 12 rounds for the vacant WBC Silver featherweight title.

In the second round, in the final seconds of a close match, McGregor landed a hard left hook to Collins’s chin. In the third round, Collins won his second round by landing McGregor.

In the fourth round, Collins dropped McGregor with a left to the chin for an 8-count from referee Mark Lyson. Seconds later, Collins dropped McGregor a second time with a combination to the chin for another 8-count. Seconds later, Collins dropped McGregor a third time with a left to the body, causing Referee Lyson to wave it off.

IBO Continental cruiserweight champ Aloys ‘The Animal’ Youmbi (10-1, 9 KOs) knocked out David Jamieson (13-4, 10 KOs) at 1:54 of the third round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first, second, and third rounds, Youmbi scored knockdowns before Referee John Latham called a halt in the third round.

The sensational 20-year-old WBO Inter-Continental and WBA International heavyweight champion Moses Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) scored a knockout over southpaw Mike ‘Silverback’ Balogun (21-2, 16 KOs) at 0:46 of the second round of a scheduled 10 rounds.

In the first round at the halfway point, a jab followed by a left from Itauma on the side of the head of Balogun, and down he went for an 8-count from referee John Latham. In the second round, backing up a counter right hook from Itauma on the chin, and down went Balogun, his back without a count from referee Latham calling a halt.

Middleweight Austin Brown (8-0, 3 KOs) stopped Reece ‘Bam Bam’ Porter (5-1, 3 KOs) at 1:48 of the first round of a scheduled 10 rounds for the vacant BBBofC Scottish Area middleweight title.

Brown scored three knockdowns in the first round, forcing referee Kevin McIntyre to call a halt.

Super Lightweight Luke McCormack (4-0, 3 KOs) knocked out Samir Cuentas (4-6) at 2:51 of the second round of an 8.

In the second round, McCormack landed a left hook, dropping Cuentas. Referee Darren Maxwell called a halt.

Light heavyweight Alex Arthur, Jr. (1-0) defeated Robbie ‘The Camden Caretaker’ Chapman (13-50, 2 KOs) by a four-round points decision.

Referee Kevin McIntyre scored it 40-36.

Welterweight Drew Limond (4-0, 1 KO) defeated Ezequiel Gregores (3-23) by a four-round points decision. Referee Kevin McIntyre scored it 40-36.

Lightweight southpaw Luke Bibby (10-1, 2 KOs) beat southpaw Cesar ‘Zurdo’ Ignacio Paredes (18-19-1, 5 KOs) by a four-round points decision.

In the first two rounds, Bibby used an effective jab, taking the rounds. In the third and fourth rounds Bibby mixed it up more with Paredes who was more active in a losing effort.

Referee Kevin McIntyre scored it 40-36.

Lightweight Lee Welsh (5-0, 2 KOs) stopped Tony Morton (1-18) at 2:38 of the first round of a scheduled four rounds.

In the first round, Welsh knocked Morton down three times, forcing referee Darren Maxwell to call a halt.

Super Lightweigght southpaw ‘Lightning’ Reece Lynch (1-0, 1 KOs) knocked out Jonatas ‘The Marajoara Monster’ Gomes de Oliviera (6-27, 5 KOs) at 3:07 of the second round of a scheduled 4 rounds.

In the second round, Lynch drove Oliveira around the ring. In the final seconds, a left uppercut from Lynch to the body and down went Oliviera for the count after the bell sounded from referee Darren Maxwell.

The Ring announcer was Thomas Treiber.