Josh Taylor eyes future welterweight showdown with Conor Benn

Former undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor is targeting a future meeting with Conor Benn as he prepares to move up to welterweight against Ekow Essuman.

Taylor and Benn both make their 2025 ring returns beginning on 26th April when Benn, 23-0 (14 KOs), moves up from welterweight to middleweight to face bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr, 34-3 (25 KOs), at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Four weeks later Taylor, 19-2 (13 KOs), makes his debut at welterweight for new promoter Frank Warren in the main event at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro against Ekow Essuman, 21-1 (8 KOs).

Tartan Tornado fancies crack at Benn

Scotsman Taylor was in Liverpool recently, where he now bases himself for camp with trainer Joe McNally, and spoke to Boxing News about a possible fight against Benn.

“I think it’d be a great fight,” Taylor said.

“Let's see how he gets on against Eubank and how the fight goes.

"If he wins he might move up and look at bigger fights up there, you’d need to ask Conor. I think it would be a potential fight. It’d be great and make me some more money!”

Taylor and Benn have aimed verbal shots at one another in the past through interviews and while ‘The Tartan Tornado’ has hopes of becoming a two-weight world champion, the prospect of taking on ‘The Destroyer’ may be too good to turn down.

Benn, however, must overcome a 14-month period out of the ring and a weight jump of 13lbs to beat Eubank.

However, the difference between winning and losing may come down to something far more simpler in  Taylor’s opinion.

“I think it’s a great fight, a very interesting fight. I think Eubank will probably win this one on experience,” Taylor said.

“He’s had a couple of defeats but he’s only been beaten by top level fighters.

"I think he’s had the more experience at the higher level. We’ll see how it goes but I’m edging towards Eubank.

"It’s a close fight and an exciting fight. I’ll certainly be tuning in to watch it.”

Essuman lies in wait

Taylor’s return in May comes off the back of two consecutive losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall respectively.

The 34-year-old insists, however, that he’s feeling no pressure ahead of the must-win bout against Essuman.

“No pressure because I know Ekow’s a tried and tested fighter. It’s a very tough fight but at the same time if this doesn’t go the way I want it to go where do I go?

"I need to win this fight and I will win this fight, but there’s no pressure it’s just a fresh challenge at becoming a world champion again.

"There’s no pressure at all, I’m back to enjoying my boxing again.”

Shaun Brown

• Queensberry
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