Archive May 24, 2025

Ekow Essuman’s shock defeat in Josh Taylor’s first fight in the welterweight division in Glasgow raised serious questions about the former undisputed world champion’s future.

Essuman grew into the fight and came out on top to win the decision on all three judges’ scorecards, even though Taylor had the Englishman hurt initially.

The 34-year-old Scot’s career-best victory leaves him with questions over what lies ahead for him.

Taylor was looking to rekindle some momentum in a career that had stagnated after defeating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas to become the UK’s first and still the only undisputed champion of the four-belt era.

He won a massive ovation from the Glasgow crowd, where so many of his greatest nights have taken place, and started off strong by catching his 36-year-old opponent with some good shots.

In the third round, Essuman capitalized on those skills and advanced quickly, sending a big right to Taylor’s head back and announcing his intention to fight.

The explosive fourth followed. With a peach-sized shot, Taylor reversed Essuman, who was then able to wobble Taylor with a straight right hand.

The pace slowed significantly in the middle rounds, but in the seventh round, possibly due to a head-collision, a nasty cut cut cut Taylor’s left eye.

In the eighth inning, Essuman was strong, backing Taylor up and filling in any gaps in his defense, encouraged by the sight of blood pouring down his opponent’s face.

The underdog was picking his best strikes, though Taylor’s more impressive work may have just overtaken the ninth.

As Taylor appeared to be tired, Essuman’s right hand repeatedly found the bullseye in the 10th.

The home crowd’s desire to rouse their hero for one last effort appeared to be crucial, so neither fighter could land the decisive blow.

Moses Itauma, a heavyweight prospect, showed yet another example of his extraordinary strength as he rose quickly. The 20-year-old forced a second-round stoppage after flooring American Mike Balogun three times.

The undercard featured plenty of Scottish interest, not the least of which was the eagerly awaited featherweight fight between Lee McGregor and Nathaniel Collins.

Glasgow fighter Collins dropped his Edinburgh rival three times, with McGregor’s corner clinching the end in round four, which was widely anticipated.

Reese Lynch, a former world champion at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, made an impressive entrance with a second-round stoppage of Jonatas de Oliveira.

With a devastating first-round defeat to Reece Porter, Aston Brown won the title of new Scottish middleweight champion.

In a four-round contest, former world champion Robbie Chapman defeated his son, also named Alex Arthur, to make his professional debut.

On the other hand, Drew Limond, the late Willie Limond, won. Ezequiel Gregores, an Argentine fighter, defeated the 19-year-old in four rounds.

Bayern Munich are interested in Joao Pedro, Liverpool and Newcastle are interested in Joao Pedro, and Manchester United are prepared to sign Eberechi Eze as a Florian Wirtz replacement.

After relocating to Liverpool-bound Germany attacker Florian Wirtz, 22, they are considering moving for Crystal Palace and England international Eberechi Eze, 26. (Mirror)

As Liverpool prepare to conclude a deal for the playmaker, Liverpool have offered Wirtz a contract worth more than £320, 000 per week. (Sky Sports Switzerland, in French)

Bayern Munich, the champions of the Bundesliga, is interested in AC Milan’s 25-year-old Portugal forward Rafael Leao and Brighton and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, 28. (Mirror)

In the coming weeks, Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will complete a move to Serie A champions Napoli. (Mail)

Joao Pedro, a 23-year-old Brazilian forward, will face Liverpool and Newcastle in a game-changing match. (Talksport)

England winger Jack Grealish’s future at Manchester City has been in doubt since being drafted for Fulham’s final game of the season. (Telegraph requires a subscription)

Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, has confirmed to his players that he will remain at Old Trafford. (Athletic – A subscription required)

One of six first-team players who will leave Manchester United this summer is Portugal’s 30-year-old attacker Captain Bruno Fernandes. Football Insider

Rasmus Hojlund, a 22-year-old Danish striker, is another player who has been offered a job at Manchester United. (GiveMeSport)

Luka Modric, a 39-year-old Croatian midfielder who has stated his intention to leave Real Madrid this summer, is wanted by Inter Milan. (Fichajes – Spanish)

Liverpool’s 22-year-old English defender Jarell Quansah is one of the transfer targets for Nottingham Forest. Football Insider

When Victor Lindelof’s contract expires at the end of the season, the Manchester United defender will step down as a free agent. (Romano-Fabrizio)

Atletico Madrid and Argentina right-back Nahuel Molina, 27, will compete with Napoli, Juventus, and Roma for the title. (Marca, via Sportwitness)

After Henry Pollock appeared to be snuffed around the neck on the final whistle of the Saints’ Champions Cup final defeat on Saturday, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson accused the Bordeaux-Begles’ players of being “out of order.”

According to Dowson, “There was foul play involved in the end.”

“I think it was inappropriate and out of order,” Henry Pollock said in a special way. The officials have assured me that they will handle it after he reacted.

After the French defeated them 28-20 in Cardiff, Pollock, 20, had an argument with fly-half Mathieu Jalibert and was confronted by Bordeaux prop Jefferson Poirot.

Jalibert responded, “I told him that he didn’t know our club.” They “made some statements in the press that we didn’t really appreciate.”

They claimed that we were a mercenary club for money. I just told him that he must respect all clubs and doesn’t know our history or where we came from.

A behind-the-scenes video of Northampton’s semi-final victory over Leinster revealed how Saints used their own innate togetherness to inspire them to defeat their more popular foes.

Fin Smith, the Saints’ fly-half, argued that his England team-mate was the innocent party after a string of admirable displays in a remarkable breakthrough season.

They pursued him, they claimed. They didn’t seem to like him, Smith said.

They were all attempting to elude him, they all kind of charged at him.

When you first meet with a 20-year-old, you will be surprised if you have just won a European Cup. That piqued my interest, I thought. He’ll be fine.

After their final Premier League game against Aston Villa, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is ready to apologize to the club’s fans at Old Trafford.

On Sunday, the Old Trafford side’s grueling campaign will come to an end against Unai Emery’s hopefuls for Champions League qualification.

With Tottenham’s defeat in the Europa League final, United lost all of their chances of making it to the most prestigious competition in European football.

Their worst domestic campaign since the 1973-1974 relegation season, which added to the misery, will not play football in Europe again next season for the second time since 1990, adding to that disappointment.

The former Sporting boss, who is 40, has not yet decided what to say in his end-of-season address, but he said: “It will be an apology, I think that’s clear, I don’t have time for an explanation.

I’ll be open and honest with the fans, saying what’s on my mind, and particularly my heart.

Given the widespread unease at owners, the Glazer family, and the job cuts initiated by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, it won’t be easy to do so.

United’s supporters will stage a second pre-game demonstration at Old Trafford to express their opposition to the club’s management.

However, according to officials, the majority of supporters agree with Amorim’s assessment that he is the right man to start a revival, and the coach is happy to speak with them.

He continued, “It’s tradition, and we have to face it,” during the post-game lap of appreciation. If we don’t do that, we will make the biggest mistake.