Rising Star Ekow Essuman Eyes British Belts

Online betting markets have the unbeaten Essuman favored to win, but Jenkins is the titleholder for a reason and he can’t be discounted.

Essuman Faces Toughest Test

The 32-year-old is 14-0 and has yet to face anyone of note, but Essuman looks to have a stack of ability.

His best win came against 10-0 fighter Curtis Felix Jnr in 2019, which resulted in a TKO victory. He has since defeated an 8-7-3 fighter by unanimous decision, so the jury is still out about his world championship class.

Essuman’s previous two fights came against laughable opposition. “The Engine” defeated a 26-152-10  opponent in what can only be described as a joke fight in 2019. He followed it up with a points decision win against a 2-26-0 fighter.

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British, Commonwealth and European Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce returns to the ring against Top 15 Heavyweight 🇨🇲 🇫🇷 Carlos Takam.

Ekow Essuman challenges British Champion Chris Jenkins and Bourke takes a huge step up against Beech.#Boxing #JoyceTakam pic.twitter.com/28AR7bpCP9

— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) July 19, 2021

There is a lot to be desired about his record, but he has beaten all comers and he’s not lacking confidence.

“I don’t want to give too much away in terms of my game plan, but it won’t reach the final bell and I am coming for those belts,” Essuman told The Nottingham Post. “We were supposed to fight back in March, but then it got postponed because Jenkins suffered a perforated eardrum.

“That was frustrating and I had to ask myself is this guy playing games? But there’s no hiding place for him now will be a hard fight, but I am not called the engine for no reason and that’s what I will show everybody this weekend.”

Essuman believes winning the belts would open up more opportunities. He has struggled to find quality opponents, but beating Chris Jenkins, who is 22-3-3, would help.

“Winning the British title would only serve to open more doors for me and I’d love to be able to keep it outright,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get in there now.”

Boxing odds suggest Essuman wins comfortably. However, we don’t expect Jenkins to go down easily.

Jenkins Wants Respect

Bookmakers aren’t giving Jenkins much respect and the accomplished fighter doesn’t understand why.

He scored a unanimous decision win against Johnny Garton in 2019 before beating Paddy Gallagher in a close decision in Belfast, which came with controversy. Many scorecards had Jenkins losing but got the nod from judges.

He hasn’t fought since November 2019, which is the main concern. However, ‘The Boogeyman’ believes he deserves more respect than he’s getting.

“I wasn’t meant to beat Johnny Garton or Paddy Gallagher, but managed both,” Jenkins said. I don’t know why I don’t get respect because I have been fighting at the top end of domestic level since the first fight against Tyrone Nurse six years ago.

Chris Jenkins Wants More Respect, Looks To Stun Ekow Essuman https://t.co/60wqmaE66u pic.twitter.com/bINyphvC6i

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) July 17, 2021

“Maybe it is because I get cut, don’t bother with social media or perhaps my face doesn’t fit. I am happy in life though and it doesn’t get to me. I have got a thick skin.

“Hopefully, the respect will come after I beat Essuman, but if not I will still sleep well in my bed at night because life is good.”

His most recent fight ended in a draw after he sustained a cut left eye. It ended in Round Three and his recent perforated ear drum didn’t help increase tensions between Jenkins and Essuman.

“He can say what he wants about my injury,” Jenkins said. “I was examined by a British Board of Control doctor. I wanted to fight on, but the Board is rightly safety first so I couldn’t be passed fit.

“I’ve got a family to care for. Does he think I want to pull out injured?

“The ambition is to beat Essuman, shut him up, and move on.”

Bettors get +230 for Jenkins to take care of Essuman at Wembley. The odds are generous given his record, but he’ll need to beat an unbeaten boxer on the rise.