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He is 34 now and the years between then and now have not been kind to him. <\/p>\n
The big homecoming fight in February 2022 against Jack Catterall was supposed to be a springboard to a mega-fight with one of the sport’s superstars. The great Terence Crawford seemed an achievable match to be made at that stage.<\/p>\n
Taylor beat Catterall with the benefit of some highly controversial judges’ scorecards and, to this day, still receives flak about it. <\/p>\n
He went from one of the hottest fighters on the planet to a lightning rod for criticism in one night. Rarely has a winner lost so much.<\/p>\n
Teofimo Lopez was too good when taking the last of Taylor’s four world titles in June 2023 in New York and Catterall righted the wrongs with a points win when the pair re-matched in Leeds last year.<\/p>\n
Injury and inactivity has been a plague on Taylor’s career these past few years. Three fights in four years is nowhere near busy enough.<\/p>\n
The move up to welterweight has come later than it should and the first obstacle on the road to becoming a two-weight world champion is Essuman.<\/p>\n
It is not a name to set pulses racing, but the Englishman represents a decent test in Taylor’s first foray in the 147lbs division.<\/p>\n
Essuman is a tough, durable fighter \u2013 as his nickname ‘the Engine’ suggests \u2013 and, while he is undoubtedly limited in comparison to most of the fighters Taylor has faced in recent years, he will take a bit of shifting.<\/p>\n
Winning is one thing, looking good while doing so is another, and Taylor will have to do both to start building the sort of momentum that demands a shot at one of the champions of the division – Mario Barrios, Jaron Ennis or Brian Norman Jr.<\/p>\n
Had he entered the division as the undisputed champion four years ago, Taylor would have done so as one of the top dogs and in prime position to make some lucrative fights across the pond.<\/p>\n
Right now, it is unlikely any of that American trio of champions has a bout with the Tartan Tornado in their short or long-term plans.<\/p>\n
Taylor has to find a way to change that, to establish himself as a credible force and commercial draw in the division. <\/p>\n
He has been written off in various quarters, many believing that his crowning moment against Ramirez was the peak and everything since has been a rapid tumble from the summit.<\/p>\n
Does he have another two or three big performances in him? <\/p>\n
Time is slipping away and, unless he demonstrates some of the old skill, timing and downright badness that he displayed in that epic run to become undisputed champ, it will be hard to escape the feeling that Taylor is simply fighting a losing battle to get back to the lofty heights he once graced.<\/p>\n
Taylor spoke this week about no longer having the burden of an expectant nation resting on his shoulders and how that had been a weight lifted. <\/p>\n
You can bet he would love nothing better than to get it all back \u2013 the expectation, the pressure, the plaudits. <\/p>\n
That would mean he is back operating at the level he has always wanted to be, where he feels he belongs – and where he believes he can get to once again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n