Ekow Essuman defeat showed why it's time for 'boxing great' Josh Taylor to hang-up his gloves

Our resident boxing expert Rob Tebbutt explains why he feels it's now time for former super-lightweight king Josh Taylor to close the curtain upon his illustrious boxing career after seeing his welterweight world title dreams go up in smoke.

Love him or loathe him, the sight of a badly beaten, bashed-up and bruised Josh Taylor was sad for all to see this past weekend.

The Tartan Tornado, who is undoubtedly one of Great Britain's greatest ever boxers, came undone on his welterweight debut at the hands of an opponent Ekow Essuman, who, for many, is British / European level at best.

The loss represents a third straight defeat for the former super-lightweight undisputed king who sadly looked a shadow of the fighter who defeated Jose Ramirez back in 2021 to fully unify titles at 140lbs.

The move up a division was designed to show Taylor in a refreshed and revitalised light as he bid to become a two-weight world champion, but instead we saw a man whose best boxing days are well and truly behind him.

The difference in weight was obvious from the fifth or sixth round onwards - Essuman was simply bigger, stronger and more durable at 147lbs, and that told in the outcome of the fight.

Going into the clash, Taylor, who was making his Queensberry debut, had spoken of challenging either Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title or Brian Norman Jr for his WBO strap, but those opportunities have never seemed further away.

It's difficult to see where Taylor goes from here because, whilst still disappointing for him, those losses at the hands of Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall were far more easily explained than his shock loss against Essuman.

For me, considering everything that Taylor has achieved throughout a truly phenomenal boxing career, including his extensive list of accolades and, I'm sure, a financial sum that he should be able to live very comfortably with, I would like to see him retire.

- Rob Tebbutt

He has been one of British boxing's greatest fighters of all-time and I would truly hate to see him continue and do his legacy a disservice by losing below his level.

He has nothing left to prove and will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest boxers to have ever donned the gloves, and that should be more than enough to keep him comfortable in retirement.

That said as much as I'd love to see Taylor ride off into the sunset now, it's important to remember that this is boxing, and when money talks, fighters continue to listen.

As a once huge name in the super-lightweight division, I am sure that it could well be difficult for him to turn down the advances of another fight if a financially rewarding offer was forthcoming.

But, as I have said, for me, Saturday night proved that it's time for Josh Taylor to bid farewell and enjoy the fruits of his boxing labour, and I for one, truly hope that he does indeed call time on his wonderful career.

Rob Tebbutt

• Queensberry
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