‘I’m doing it for myself’: Taylor focused and motivated to beat Essuman

Josh Taylor says he’s not feeling any added pressure by fighting Ekow Essuman at home.

As Josh Taylor prepares for his welterweight fight against Ekow Essuman on May 24 he talks to iFL TV about moving up in weight, fighting in front of his home crowd, and reacts to those who believe he’s past it as a fighter. Here’s some of what Taylor had to say below.

Taylor on whether he feels pressure to put on a great performance at home against Essuman

“I’m past the stage right now of caring of putting on a big show. I’m doing it for myself. I’m being selfish here and being tunnel vision, making sure that I’m good, making sure I’m doing good, not making sure ‘oh, I need to do it for this person or that person.’ I’m doing it for myself.

“I’m just making sure I go in there to the best of my ability in terms of my preparation and making sure that I perform good.”

On those who thinks his best days are behind him given his last few outings

“I’ve prove you all wrong before. I can do it again, no problem. Nobody expected me to become undisputed world champion. Every time I’ve stepped up my whole career — at first it was the Ohara Davies fight, ‘oh it’s a bit too soon for him,’ blew him away. Then it was Viktor Postol and it was ‘this is far too soon for him’...and then going against Ramirez, ‘oh he’s come forward, aggressive,’ the underdog again. And I kept proving everybody wrong.

“So everybody’s say the same again now. So, great, can’t wait to keep shutting you up and it just keeps me motivated...you’re always going to get the naysayers anyway and if you listen to them you’ll never get anywhere.”

On if he thinks he can snag a title at 147 and who he would like to target

“It’s kind of opening back up again. I think Boots Ennis is probably going to move up but if he doesn’t it would be great to have a fight against him, it would be fantastic...that would be a great opportunity. It’s looking bright and there’s plenty opportunity there for me.”