Josh Taylor’s homecoming ended in heartbreak on Saturday night in Glasgow, as he dropped a 12-round decision to Ekow Essuman, marking his third consecutive loss and casting fresh doubts over his future in the sport.
The 34-year-old former undisputed super lightweight champion moved up to 147 pounds hoping to reignite his career, but instead found himself outworked and outpointed by a hungry and overlooked challenger. Essuman delivered the upset of the night, and possibly one of the biggest of 2025 so far.
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Speaking to BBC Scotland, Taylor admitted the toll the loss has taken. “I’m going to take a little bit of time just to think about what’s coming,” he said. “I’ll just relax for a couple of weeks and not make any hasty decisions. If I really feel that I’m not performing, I’ll hang them up.”
Once a pound-for-pound staple and the only Briton to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era, Taylor now faces the harsh reality of age, ring wear, and declining momentum. “Three back-to-back defeats…I took it quite tough,” he added. “If I’m going to keep going, I need to get more active and get out at least a couple of times a year.”
Taylor has not looked his best in over three years, and while the fights have remained compelling, the results have not. As speculation swirls about whether this was his last stand, the Tartan Tornado remains non-committal - wounded, but not quite ready to close the curtain.
Image Credit: Sky Sports