Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman – Live Results From the OVO Hydro in Glasgow

Welcome to Big Fight Weekend’s live results coverage for Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman from the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. We’ll update this article throughout the night with full recaps of every fight on the card, from the opening bout to the highly anticipated main event between Taylor and Essuman. Stay tuned for all the key moments as they unfold. The first fight is expected to begin around 16:00 BST on the Queensberry Promotions YouTube page, with the main card going live on DAZN from 19:00 BST.

Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman: Undercard and Main Event Results on May 24

Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman

After a stellar undercard with memorable performances, it was time for the main event: Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman (22-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant WBO Global welterweight title. It was a positive opening round from Taylor (19-3, 13 KOs) as he took the centre of the ring, establishing his jab and letting his hands go to good effect. The Tartan Tornado continued his promising start into the second round, landing some eye-catching body shots.

At the start of the third round, Essuman took the initiative and let his hands go, landing a sharp right hand. The fourth round saw both fighters have big moments, with Taylor landing a nice counter left, which Essuman felt. The Engine recovered and landed a right hand, hurting Taylor.

Both had their moments in the fifth, but Taylor’s speed and accuracy kept him on top. Essuman enjoyed a good seventh round, whipping in some body shots. An accidental clash of heads opened a cut near Taylor’s eye. As the fight edged towards the final rounds, Essuman continued to apply pressure and work Taylor.

The tenth round was a firefight, with both swapping heavy-looking shots. Taylor looked in control when he put his shots together, but Essuman was relentless and kept coming. The final round saw both have bright moments, but the pressure from Essuman was constant until the final bell. It was a great fight, full of action. Both fighters gathered in the middle of the ring to hear the judges’ scorecards, which read 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113, all favouring Essuman, now the new WBO Global welterweight champion. A career-best win for the Nottingham fighter.

In the post-fight bout, Marcus Sutherland (8-0, 5 KOs) blew away Dylan Nixon (0-3, 0 KOs) in their super bantamweight clash, scoring three knockdowns in the first round, with the referee then waving the fight off, with Sutherland the victor by first-round TKO.

Nathaniel Collins vs Lee McGregor

In the penultimate fight of the evening, it was time for Nathaniel Collins (17-0, 8 KOs) vs Lee McGregor (15-2-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBC silver featherweight title. It was a bright opening round with Collins finding his range quicker. He appeared to settle into his groove early, but McGregor landed a smart left hook on the bell in round two.

McGregor was having moments but Collins looked sharp and in the fourth landed a beautiful body shot, enabling him to follow up with two quick shots to force the knockdown. Collins’ corner bellowed at him to go for the finish, and he did just that, knocking his opponent down twice more, forcing the referee to step in and wave the fight off. A fourth-round TKO win makes Collins the new WBC Silver featherweight champion. Nightmare by name, nightmare by nature.

Moses Itauma vs Mike Balogun

Next up, it was time for the heavyweights, with the frightening Moses Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) back in action against American Mike Balogun (21-2, 16 KOs) for the WBO Intercontinental and WBA international heavyweight titles. Both fighters looked to establish their jab early, before Itauma landed a big left hand, knocking the American down who done well to survive the round. The feinting and judging of distance from Itauma is something special.

The domination continued in the second round, with Itauma landing a spiteful right hook. Balogun somehow made the count, but the fight was soon over with Itauma taking a step back, landing another right hook, prompting the referee to wave it off. A brutally efficient performance from Moses Itauma, winning by second-round TKO and now the WBO Intercontinental and WBA international heavyweight champion.

Reese Lynch vs Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira

Scottish amateur sensation Reese Lynch (1-0, 1 KO) dominated, before stopping Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-27, 5 KOs) in the second round of their super lightweight fight. It was a punch-perfect debut from Lynch, who won the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He judged the distance impressively throughout and showed patience and great accuracy. The 23-year-old southpaw is one to watch for the future.

Aloys Junior vs David Jamieson

In the first fight on the live DAZN broadcast, it was Aloys Junior (10-1, 9 KOs) vs David Jamieson (13-4, 10 KOs) for Junior’s WBA continental title and the vacant Commonwealth cruiserweight belt. It was a mostly cagey opening round until Junior landed a well-timed body shot, followed by a right hand that knocked Jamieson down. Jamieson complained it was a punch behind the head.

Junior landed a vicious uppercut in round two, which he followed with a right hand, scoring another knockdown. The Lewisham native continued to work smartly off his jab before landing a huge left hook, sending Jamieson crashing to the canvas and the referee waving the fight off, making him the new Commonwealth champion, while retaining his WBA continental strap. Can anyone tame The Animal?

Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman: YouTube Prelims

In the main event of the YouTube prelims, Aston Brown (8-0, 3 KOs) faced Reece Porter (5-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant Scottish Area middleweight title. Brown came out fast and knocked Porter down three times before the referee stopped the fight. An impressive first-round TKO win for Brown, who had far too much power for Porter and is now the new Scottish Area middleweight champion.

Alex Arthur Jr. (1-0, 0 KOs) was next up, making his professional debut in the light heavyweight division against Robbie Chapman (13-50-9, 2 KOs). Arthur showcased impressive shot selection throughout the fight to win 40-36.

In the super welterweight division, Drew Limond (4-0, 1 KO) defeated Ezequiel Gregores (3-23, 0 KOs) 40-36. Limond boxed well and mixed his shots impressively.

Next up was Luke McCormack (4-0, 3 KOs) vs Samir Cuentas (4-6, 0 KOs) in the super lightweight division. McCormack found his rhythm and stopped Cuentas in the second round with a big left hook.

It was the turn of the super lightweights next, with Lee Welsh (5-0, 2 KOs) blowing Tony Morton (1-18, 0 KOs) away in the first round, winning by TKO.

In the opening fight of the night, Luke Bibby (10-1, 2 KOs) dominated in his lightweight fight, defeating Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-19-1, 5 KOs) 40-36.