Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman Preview: Odds, Tips, and Prediction

What’s at Stake in Glasgow

No belt on the line, no eliminator status, and not even a shiny regional strap to pose with. But don’t be fooled, this fight matters, and both men know it. Josh Taylor isn’t just fighting in Glasgow; he’s fighting for what’s left of his credibility. Two losses in a row – one a Teofimo Lopez masterclass, the other a long-overdue receipt from Jack Catterall – have stripped Taylor of his pound-for-pound polish and left him looking more like a faded headliner than a future Hall of Famer. If he slips up again in front of his own people, it’s not a step back, it’s a cliff.

Then there’s Ekow Essuman, the uninvited guest who doesn’t mind playing the villain. He’s coming off a tight win over Ben Vaughan and sees this as his lottery ticket. Beat Taylor, and suddenly he’s not just a tough domestic fighter. He’s a legitimate welterweight contender. It might not have gold at stake, but someone’s career direction is about to take a hard left or a sharp right.

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability 

Josh Taylor: 4/6 (1.67) – 59.9%
Draw: 18/1 (19.00) – 5.3%
Ekow Essuman: 6/4 (2.50) – 40.0%
Odds courtesy of Stake, subject to change

Expect sharp shifts closer to fight night. While Taylor’s resume still packs a punch, savvy punters might sniff value in Essuman’s underdog status. For fans of sports betting online, this is a high-risk, high-reward affair.

It’s practically a mirror match on paper, same height and similar reach, both with technical chops. But while Taylor’s been in with elite names, Essuman has been the king of consistency at a domestic level.

Josh Taylor News

Josh Taylor returns to the OVO Hydro with a home crowd behind him and his reputation hanging by a thread. The former undisputed champ hasn’t had his hand raised since 2022 and is coming off back-to-back losses, most recently a unanimous decision defeat to Jack Catterall in their long-anticipated rematch. Before that, he was thoroughly outboxed by Teofimo Lopez in a fight that got people seriously wondering about his timing, conditioning, and confidence. The move to 147 is meant to offer a reset. No more brutal weight cuts and, supposedly, a clearer mindset. He’s changed camps and stripped things back, aiming to rediscover the slick southpaw who once beat Prograis and Ramirez. But nostalgia doesn’t score rounds. If Taylor doesn’t show urgency, especially in the middle and late rounds, Essuman will be right there to turn Glasgow’s welcome home into a very loud wake-up call.