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Ekow Essuman prepares for world title clash with Jack Catterall: “This is my place”

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9 months ago

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Ekow Essuman gearing up for world title run with Jack Catterall clash: “This is where I belong”

Ekow “The Engine” Essuman didn’t need a victory over Josh Taylor to prove he was world class.

In May, the Nottingham welterweight kept his composure in the heat of Glasgow, doing everything in his power to hand the Scot the third defeat of his career. Two months later, Taylor – the former undisputed super lightweight champion – announced he was retiring. A notable scalp in more ways than Essuman’s.

In her amateur days, Taylor qualified for the London Olympics in 2012 and won Commonwealth gold two years later. Essuman was a member of the British Podium boxing team and boxed for the British Lionhearts team – a grueling five-round format not for the dull of heart.

Taylor’s beating was not evidence, but confirmation of what Essuman already believed, as Boxing News explained.

“With my previous experience with Team GB and boxing in general and the work I have done with people at the highest world level, I know that I am a world champion. I just have to go out and show everyone that I am a world champion. I know all the skills that I have. I know how I exploit them. I belong to fight for world titles.

“Honestly, I knew to some extent that I was at the level to beat Josh Taylor before I beat him. But obviously beating him just reinforced that belief for me, as much as anyone else. And fighting on that show in front of a huge crowd.”

The ‘show’ takes place next Saturday (November 15) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – it’s going to be a large night, culminating in a hard-fought rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. On the card below, Essuman (22-1, 8 KO) meets Taylor’s fiercest rival, Jack “El Gato” Catterall (31-2, 13 KO), in one of the standout supporting fights.

So how did this happen?

“We found out about their offer and then there was a lot of media coverage about it. So I think the hype built up to the point where people thought the fight just had to happen.”

Essuman admits he’s disappointed that his career hasn’t taken off as quickly as he expected after Taylor’s win.

“I was definitely getting flowers. I think die-hard boxing fans really know what I’ve accomplished. Of course, people can say that Josh was at the end of his career anyway. He certainly didn’t look like that when he came out for the first few rounds of the fight. I did that to him – I took that away from him. So really, it’s just more than that. I was preparing for the next level. So come on.”

Essuman’s reign in the UK included solid domestic victories over Chris Jenkins, Danny Ball, Darren Tetley, Samuel Antwi and Chris Kongo. He was only beaten by “Scary” Harry Scarff. Against Catterall, he’ll face a fighter whose awkward southpaw style could prove just as hard.

Catterall has spent recent months in Philadelphia training under “Bozy” Ennis – father and coach of Jaron Ennis – alongside world-class talents such as Stephen Fulton and Andy Cruz. The switch could bring a more forward version of the Chorley model.

But Essuman knows what to expect.

“I shared the ring with Jack in the run-up to the Josh Taylor fight. The reason for that is because I wanted to really feel what Jack was good at, how awkward Jack was. So I knew how to be that awkward with Josh Taylor. I had a good feel for Jack’s awkwardness and what he’s really good at – things that annoy other people. I know what I’m dealing with.”

“If he decided to play more forward, it would work in my favor either way. It won’t matter. He might think I might be there ahead of him. But he’ll just find out about all the other quivers on my bow.”

Essuman is ranked No. 3 by the WBO and Catterall is ranked No. 8. It’s not a world title eliminator, but it carries that kind of weight. Failure would be a major setback – especially for 36-year-old Essuman, who cannot afford to rebuild at this stage.

After dismantling Taylor, the “Engine” is ready to run again. Catterall may need something special to stop him.

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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20 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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22 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

22 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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