The OVO Hydro in Glasgow shook with noise as hometown hero Josh Taylor returned for a “Land of the Brave” headliner, flanked by Scotland’s newest heavyweight hope Moses Itauma, a pair of unbeaten featherweights chasing a WBC belt, and a stacked slate of local prospects all looking to impress on a Queensberry show.
Ekow Essuman spoiled the party in the main event, edging Josh Taylor by unanimous decision with scores of 116-113, 117-112 and 115-113. Taylor boxed well early and led on many unofficial cards, but a cut from a seventh-round head clash and Essuman’s late-round rights shifted momentum, leaving the Glasgow crowd stunned as the visitor improved to 22-1.
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Featherweight southpaw Nathaniel Collins claimed the vacant WBC Silver strap in style, flooring Lee McGregor three times in round 4 - left hand, combination, and a body shot - before referee Mark Lyson waved it off at 1:45, moving Collins to 18-0.
Aloys Youmbi lived up to his “Animal” nickname, dropping David Jamieson in each of the first three rounds and finishing the cruiserweight bout at 1:54 of round 3 to defend his IBO Continental belt.
Twenty-year-old heavyweight Moses Itauma thrilled the Scottish fans, jabbing Mike Balogun to the canvas late in round 1 and ending matters with a counter right hook 46 seconds into round 2, boosting his record to 12-0 with 10 KOs.
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Middleweight Austin Brown needed less than two minutes to become BBBofC Scottish Area champion, scoring three knockdowns over Reece Porter and forcing the stoppage at 1:48 of round 1.
Luke McCormack crushed Samir Cuentas with a left-hook knockdown and a follow-up assault, securing a super-lightweight TKO at 2:51 of round 2, while light-heavy debutant Alex Arthur Jr. outpointed veteran Robbie Chapman 40-36 over four.
The undercard saw Drew Limond and Luke Bibby post clean 40-36 wins, Lee Welsh drop Tony Morton three times for a first-round stoppage, and southpaw Reece Lynch close the show by knocking out Jonatas Gomes de Oliveira with a body shot right on the bell to end round 2.
Image Credit: Queensberry Promotions