Taylor 146.8 Vs. Essuman 146.4 And Itauma 254 Vs. Balogun 241 – Official DAZN Weights

Josh Taylor vs. Ekow Essuman and Moses Itauma vs. Mike Balogun weighed in at this time for his or her fights this Saturday, Might twenty fourth, in Glasgow. The previous undisputed gentle welterweight champion Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) appeared upbeat, hitting the scales for his debut at 147 in opposition to Essuman (21-1, 8 KOs).

Saturday’s occasion can be proven reside on DAZN and staged on the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Taylor, 34, appeared nonchalant at this time, performing as if his victory in opposition to Essuman was already assured.

Weights

Josh Taylor – 146.8 vs. Ekow Essuman – 146.4Moses Itauma 254 vs. Mike Balogun 241

Taylor’s Profession on the Line

Josh ought to be stressed as a result of he’s coming into the struggle with a report that’s arguably 0-3 since 2022. Taylor misplaced his final two fights, and lots of boxing followers imagine he ought to have misplaced his first conflict in opposition to Jack Catterall in 2022. The specialists imagine Josh’s conflict in opposition to Jose Ramirez in Might 2021 took one thing out of him, leaving him weak for his final three contests. That was Taylor’s downfall.

I hate to say it, however Taylor’s profession is on the road on Saturday in opposition to Essuman. He can faux that that is simply one other struggle for him, however his state of affairs is dire. A loss to the domestic-level fighter Essuman is the top of the road for the Scottish lad.

Josh most likely gained’t retire, however followers and fighters will have a look at him as a has-been, which he already is. Shedding to Catterall confirmed that Taylor is now not world-class. That’s a man that will be meals for the highest 147-pounders.

Itauma’s Weight and Future Issues

Heavyweight Moses Itauma (11-0, 9 KOs) got here in at 254 lbs for his 10-lb struggle in opposition to second-tier fighter Mike Balogun (21-1, 16 KOs). The 6’2″ Itauma seemed mushy on the weight, and gave the impression to be carrying an excessive amount of bulk for his top. He’s getting away with it now, however he gained’t when he begins taking up contenders. He’ll most likely be okay in opposition to this tomato can, but when his promoters match him in opposition to Martin Bakole, he’ll seemingly get uncovered.

Itauma will get hit an excessive amount of as it’s in opposition to the cans he’d been combating. If he doesn’t trim down and deal with his protection, he’ll lose to the likes of Bakole, Joseph Parker, Agit Kabayel, and Richard Torrez Jr.

Is This Josh Taylor 2.0?

“That is Josh Taylor 2.0. So, that is the beginning of it, and Ekow stands in the best way of it. I’m going to do job tomorrow evening,” mentioned Taylor at at this time’s weigh-in for his struggle this Saturday in opposition to Ekow Essuman in Glasgow, Scotland. “That is going to be a complete win for myself.”

It seems like wishful pondering by Taylor, believing it is a new begin for him. If he might have turned his profession round, he would have by now and wouldn’t have misplaced to Catterall and Teofimo Lopez.

“Josh Taylor has had just one struggle per yr since 2020. That’s not sufficient,” mentioned DAZN commentator Ade Oladipo.

“No, it’s not. He’s not been combating usually sufficient, however clearly, he’s not been on the best run of kind by way of wins and losses,” mentioned commentator Carl Frampton. “He misplaced his final two, then going again to Jack Catterall [in their first fight in 2022], and everybody thought he misplaced that one as properly.

“It’s must-win for Josh. I feel it fits him now to be out of the division, to be out of sunshine welterweight. He wanted to do it a very long time in the past, and he’s achieved it now. I think about we’re going to see a reinvigored Josh Taylor with an additional seven kilos. There’s going to be much more vitality,” mentioned Frampton.

The outcomes from at this time’s weigh-in:

The vacant WBO World Welterweight Championship – 12 x 3 Minute RoundsJosh Taylor – 146.8 lbsEkow Essuman – 146.4 lbs

The WBO Inter-continental and WBA Worldwide Heavyweight Championships – 10 x 3 Minute RoundsMoses Itauma – 254 lbsMike Balogun – 241 lbs

The vacant WBC Silver Featherweight Championship – 12 x 3 Minute RoundsNathaniel Collins – 125.6 lbsLee McGregor – 125.4 lbs

The WBA Continental & vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championships – 12 x 3 Minute RoundsAloys Jr – 199 lbsDavid Jamieson – 198.4 lbs

The vacant BBBofC Scottish space Middleweight Title – 10 x 3 Minute RoundsAston Brown – 159.6 lbsReece Porter – 159.4 lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Tremendous-Welterweight ContestDrew Limond – 148.8 lbsEzequiel Gregores – 150 lbs

8 x 3 Minute Rounds Tremendous-Light-weight ContestLuke McCormack – 143.2 lbsSamir Cuentas – 144 lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Mild-Heavyweight ContestAlex Arthur Jr – 171 lbsRobbie Chapman – 171 lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds Light-weight ContestLuke Bibby – 135.3 lbsCesar Ignacio Paredes – 134 lbs