April 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Devin Haney reacts after he is declared the winner against Rafael Vazquez at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Devin Haney Responds To Josh Taylor’s Upset Loss To Ekow Essuman With Sharp Words

Devin Haney wastes no time in mocking Josh Taylor’s fall and questioning his place among the elite!

April 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Devin Haney reacts after he is declared the winner against Rafael Vazquez at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Some fighters love to kick each other when they’re down, especially when old grudges simmer beneath the surface. The sport thrives on these petty feuds and personal vendettas that stretch far beyond what happens between the ropes. Sometimes a loss hurts more because of who’s watching and waiting to pounce on your misery.

Josh Taylor learned this lesson the hard way after his shocking defeat to Ekow Essuman in Glasgow. The former super lightweight champion thought moving up to welterweight might rejuvenate his career after recent struggles. Instead, he walked into another devastating loss that had his critics sharpening their knives on Twitter. Among those critics was Devin Haney, who couldn’t resist taking shots at the Scottish fighter’s expense.

Also Read: Moses Itauma Secures WBO’s Top Spot With Mike Balogun Win, Sets Stage For Mandatory Clash After Joseph Parker

Josh Taylor Suffers Upset Loss Against Ekow Essuman

This weekend in Glasgow turned into a nightmare for Josh Taylor in front of his home crowd. Essuman ground Taylor down with relentless pressure and volume punching. What started as a competitive fight quickly shifted in Essuman’s favor once he figured out Taylor’s timing and rhythm. The breakthrough moment came at the end of round three when Essuman buzzed Taylor with a clean right hand that left the Scotsman walking to the wrong corner.

WHAT A FIGHT! 👊#TaylorEssuman pic.twitter.com/wv9lU7m7Ie
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 24, 2025

Taylor’s body language told the whole story as the fight progressed into the later rounds. His legs looked heavy, his punches lacked snap, and he seemed content to cover up rather than move or counter effectively. Essuman’s volume proved too much for a fighter who once dominated the super lightweight division with slick southpaw skills and devastating power. The unanimous decision loss marked Taylor’s third straight defeat. At 34 years old and coming off another disappointing performance, retirement whispers started immediately after the final bell rang.

The defeat highlighted just how far Taylor has fallen from his peak years when he unified all four major titles at 140 pounds. His 2021 victory over Jose Ramirez represented the pinnacle of his career, making him just the sixth male fighter to hold undisputed status in the four-belt era. Those glory days feel like ancient history now as Taylor struggles to recapture even a fraction of his former brilliance.

Devin Haney Pounces On Josh Taylor’s Misfortune

Devin Haney didn’t hold back after Josh Taylor’s shocking loss to Ekow Essuman in Glasgow. He took to social media with a brutal insult that showed just how deep their bad blood runs. The former lightweight champion posted this on X.

“Wow, Josh Taylor.. S****y boy “

Devin Haney isn’t a fan of Josh Taylor 😬 pic.twitter.com/GYAaTi1Iu7
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 25, 2025

He completed it with a trash can emoji to drive home his point. The timing couldn’t have been more cruel, coming just hours after Taylor suffered his third straight defeat in boxing in front of his home crowd. The beef between these fighters stems from years of trading barbs, with potential fights between them never materializing. Taylor’s victory over Jose Ramirez in 2021 to become undisputed champion at 140 pounds likely added fuel to Haney’s resentment.

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Devin Haney

Ekow Essuman

Josh Taylor

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!