Ekow Essuman

Bio

Make no mistake, Ekow Essuman is one of the toughest, most underrated craftsmen in British boxing. The 35-year-old Nottingham-based welterweight has been a fixture at British and Commonwealth level for the better part of a decade, and his record of 21-1 — with the only loss coming in a close decision to Harry Scarff — undersells how good he is.

Essuman's nickname says it all. He doesn't have one-punch power, never has, but the work rate and the ring intelligence are exceptional. He fights every round, banks rounds at distance, and turns most of his fights into a brain-bending technical maze for opponents who'd rather be brawling.

The May 9 fight against unbeaten Jack Rafferty on the Wardley-Dubois undercard at the Co-op Live in Manchester is the latest in a long line of "spoiler" assignments. Essuman has made a career out of being the man who stops young prospects in their tracks. He'll make Rafferty work for every round, and for the price of admission alone the technical chess match should be one of the night's best fights.