FORMER undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor and newly crowned WBC international champion Lee McGregor will step back into the ring in May.
Taylor has signed with promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions for his first fight since losing a rematch with Jack Catterall in May last year.
Now, 34-year-old Taylor has waved goodbye to the light-welterweight division which he conquered in 2021.
He has stepped up to welterweight, where he will face current WBO European champion Ekow Essuman in Glasgow, with the date thought to be May 17.
Warren was looking forward to the fight, with the bout likely to take place at either the city’s OVO Hydro or Emirates Arena.
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He said: “I am also so much looking forward to returning to Scotland with the nation’s biggest star and our latest signing, Josh Taylor, headlining and rebooting his career at welterweight, where I believe he can again do big things.”
The announcement comes after a promotional video showing Taylor, who grew up in Prestonpans and now lives in Haddington, working hard in the gym in preparation for an upcoming bout.
The video, which features quotes from Sylvester Stallone’s titular character in Rocky Balboa, shows Taylor’s achievements since turning professional in 2015, culminating in beating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas to be crowned undisputed light-welterweight champion.
However, since then, he has lost undisputed decisions to Teofimo Lopez and Catterall.
Speaking to Courier Sport last year, he said the “fire and desire” still burned within him to achieve more in the sport.
He said: “I know for a fact I can still win world titles.
“We will see what happens and what plays out, because boxing is very unforgiving.
“It was only last year that I was the hottest property since sliced bread and now all of a sudden you go online and ‘I’m finished, washed up and whatever’ and opportunities slip away again.
“If I had not achieved what I have achieved, I would be a bit p***** off and a bit bitter but, because I have achieved more than most in the game in Britain, especially in Scotland, then I am more than happy if I say that is enough, but I have still got the fire and desire to win a world title again and become a two-time, two-weight world champion.”
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Essuman, 35, known as The Engine, comes into the bout with just one defeat in 22 professional bouts.
That came in November 2023, when he lost by decision to Harry Scarff. Since then, he has bounced back to win the WBO European Welterweight title, defeating Owen Cooper.
Joining Taylor on the card will be fellow East Lothian fighter McGregor, who last year lifted the WBC International belt, defeating Isaac Lowe for the title on the undercard of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk.
He will face Glaswegian Nathaniel Collins, who comes into the bout with a record of 15-0.
The two Scotsmen are no strangers to each other, having come through the amateur ranks together and also sparred together.
Despite the familiarity, McGregor stressed it would make no difference when the bell rang.
He said: “It is another east versus west clash. I have been lucky enough to be involved in one before, when it was the big Scottish match-up with Kash Farooq.
“I have experienced a night like this before and the rivalry with Kash was similar. Both of us were tipped to go on and do big fights, and it is quite similar to me and Nathaniel – the winner goes on to big things.”
McGregor said it would be “a long, hard training camp” but he was determined to produce the best version of himself.
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