Ekow Essuman desires to check himself in opposition to one of the best welterweights on the planet after grinding out a tricky, thrilling win over Ben Vaughan in Birmingham final night time.
Essuman, 21-1 (8 KOs), and Vaughan shared ten of essentially the most uncompromising rounds of the yr. Their welterweight struggle began rapidly and violently and solely inbuilt depth because it went.
Vaughan, 10-1 (3 KOs), could be pleased with the best way he carried out however Essuman’s expertise and famend stamina kicked in throughout the late rounds and the previous British champion deserved the bulk resolution he was awarded.
“They they do not name me ‘The Engine’ for no motive however, I instructed you, it is
a Spectre mannequin so I am extra like haunting folks within the ring,” Essuman instructed Queensberry after the struggle.
“I hit him with some photographs and his eye closed up and I used to be pondering, ‘How can he nonetheless see me? How?’ However you realize, it’s what it’s, so we stored it rocking.”
On the time, the uncharacteristically flat efficiency Essuman put in throughout his British and Commonwealth title struggle with Harry Scarff final November regarded just like the signalling the start of the tip of his time at championship stage however his resurgence this yr has been exceptional.
Moderately than fading quietly away or making an attempt to money out, Essuman determined to power his manner again to the highest of the home pile.
In July, he outlasted the undefeated Owen Cooper in an up and down thriller. After being dropped closely within the ninth, he rallied to cease Cooper within the tenth and last spherical. Final night time, he obtained the higher of one other hungry younger fighter in Vaughan. At 35 years previous, Essuman has pressured himself by way of two struggle of the yr contenders and greater than erased the reminiscence of the disappointing night time he endured in opposition to Scarff.
“It feels good however Frank [Warren, his promoter], you want to put me in there with the the highest of the highest lads, not these unbeaten prospects,” he mentioned. “There’s no level me derailing folks’s careers at the start. I can derail them while they’re at their finest.
“I need that world title contender match. I wish to push to the highest. I mentioned it two fights in the past.”
When Essuman says that he desires to push for the highest, he means the very high.
Essuman has focused a shot on the man extensively thought to be one of the best welterweight on the planet, IBF champion, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Beating Cooper and Vaughan isn’t sufficient to earn him a world title shot simply but, nevertheless it must be sufficient to snare him a serious struggle.
He was ranked extraordinarily extremely with the IBF earlier than shedding to Scarff however remains to be positioned inside the highest ten with the WBO and that will make him an attractive prospect for one among his home rivals.
On his night time, Essuman is an issue for any of the fighters at present campaigning in a deep British welterweight division and if he can get a significant victory over one among them, his world title dream will transfer a lot nearer.
“He is the one on the high, so he is the identify I’ll name,” he mentioned of Ennis.
“Whoever, however so long as they’re on the high. That is the entire level. Sure, I am a prizefighter however I am not simply combating these younger weapons for the sake of combating a younger gun. I am not a bit gatekeeper. I’m transferring on.”
John Evans has contributed to a variety of well-known publications and web sites for over a decade. You possibly can comply with John on X @John_Evans79
