Josh Taylor to return to boxing with welterweight bout on home turf in Glasgow

Former undisputed super lightweight world champion Josh Taylor is to return to boxing in a move up to welterweight.

Taylor is due to face former British champion and current WBO European title holder Ekow Essuman in Glasgow this May.

The Scot became Britain’s first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era by defeating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas in 2021.

The match is part of a new deal between boxing promoters Queensberry Productions and the DAZN streaming platform.

As part of the schedule, Dillian Whyte will face off against Joe Joyce in Manchester, and in Nottingham, Anthony Cacace will defend his IBO super featherweight world championship title against Leigh Wood.

“We’ve assembled a bumper lineup of cracking fights to celebrate the start of our relationship with DAZN,” said Queensberry Promotions founder and chairman Frank Warren.

“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, but he will be up against it with Ekow Essuman in the opposite corner.”

Michael Ridout, EVP New Business at DAZN, said: “This schedule of fights will showcase the best of boxing talent across weight classes.

As the global home of boxing, DAZN is committed to bringing the most exciting and nail-biting fights like these to fans around the world who love the sport.

This is only the start of DAZN’s landmark partnership with Queensberry, and we look forward to delivering more high-calibre bouts while providing an unparalleled viewing experience.”