Darren Tetley
In April 2022, Ekow defended his British, Commonwealth and IBF European titles against Darren Tetley on the Tyson Fury–Dillian Whyte undercard at Wembley Stadium.
He won by unanimous decision across twelve rounds.
INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER PROFILE
Ekow Essuman.
Professional Boxer | Former British & Commonwealth Champion | WBO Global Champion | High-Performance Speaker
“The Engine” — a career built through discipline, relentless preparation, intelligent pressure and the ability to rebuild when momentum changes.
Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman is a Botswana-born, Nottingham-based professional boxer known throughout British boxing as “The Engine”.
His journey stretches far beyond fight-night results. Ekow moved to Britain as a child, discovered boxing relatively late, worked his way into the Great Britain performance system, balanced elite sport with university and professional work, then built a championship career that has taken him from small British venues to Wembley Stadium, Glasgow's OVO Hydro, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Manchester's Co-op Live.
His story offers organisations a grounded perspective on discipline, preparation, confidence, adaptability, mentoring and what high performance really demands when success and disappointment both happen in public.
22–3
Professional record
8
Knockout wins
7
Major regional titles
2016
Professional debut
FROM BOTSWANA TO NOTTINGHAM
The foundations came before boxing.
Ekow's story begins in Botswana, years before British titles, television fights and packed arenas.
Born in Botswana
Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman was born on 30 March 1989 in Botswana.
He has spoken in interviews about being a heavier child and being encouraged towards sport. Swimming became one of his earliest organised sporting experiences and helped him become fitter and more confident physically.
Moving to Britain at eleven
When Ekow was around eleven years old, his family relocated to Nottingham. He has explained that his father, an agricultural professor, believed his children would benefit from their secondary education in Britain.
Nottingham became much more than the city where he lived. It eventually became the centre of his education, amateur boxing, professional boxing career, training base, business activity and mentoring work.
Sport came first — but boxing did not
Before boxing took over, Ekow tried several sports. Football and swimming were part of the journey, but basketball became particularly important.
For a period he had serious ambitions in basketball. Boxing initially entered the picture partly as another way of improving fitness. What began as supplementary training soon became the sport that challenged him most — technically, physically and mentally.
A LATE START
Starting at seventeen meant learning quickly.
No childhood boxing conveyor belt
Ekow did not arrive in boxing after a decade of junior championships. His amateur career began at around seventeen — relatively late for somebody who would eventually enter Britain's elite performance system.
That meant catching up technically while competing against boxers who had accumulated far more ring experience.
Progress came through repetition, curiosity and an ability to learn. Within a relatively short period he was beating recognised national-level opposition and attracting attention from the Great Britain programme.
The origin of “The Engine”
During his time in the GB system, Ekow became known as The Engine.
The name reflected his ability to maintain a demanding work-rate, apply sustained pressure and continue producing combinations deep into competitive sessions.
Over time his boxing developed beyond pure output. Experience added patience, timing, positioning and a more cerebral approach — but the work-rate remained part of his identity.
GREAT BRITAIN & THE AMATEUR YEARS
From late starter to GB Podium Squad.
Moving through the GB pathway
Ekow progressed from a trial period with Great Britain into the Podium Potential programme and ultimately the GB Podium Squad.
His amateur experience included international competition and World Series of Boxing appearances for the British Lionhearts.
The World Series of Boxing placed elite amateur boxers into a team environment using longer professional-style bouts, giving Ekow valuable experience against international opposition before entering the conventional professional ranks.
Testing himself against recognised names
Contemporary profiles of his amateur career record victories over boxers including Tommy Langford and Anthony Fowler — both highly regarded British amateurs who later built professional careers.
Ekow also competed internationally against fighters who would progress to major amateur and professional achievements.
He did not ultimately reach the Olympic Games, but the GB experience gave him a technical and physical education that became the base for his professional career.
BEYOND THE RING
Athlete, student, professional and problem-solver.
University alongside elite training
While developing within the Great Britain boxing system, Ekow also studied Marketing, Design and Communications.
He has described taking university work into training camps and completing assignments around the physical demands of GB sessions.
That experience created an unusual combination: an elite athlete learning performance inside the gym while also studying how people, organisations, communication and brands operate outside it.
Web development
After university Ekow also worked as a junior web developer. Interviews from his career describe him managing work across dozens of websites in different markets and languages while still training.
When the demands of the GB Podium Squad increased, elite boxing eventually required his full professional attention.
A useful leadership lesson
His route demonstrates that high performance does not always develop inside a single narrow environment. Education, employment, sport and life outside boxing each contributed different skills to the athlete and leader he became.
TURNING PROFESSIONAL
Starting again at the bottom.
Moving from GB boxing into the professional sport meant exchanging one progression system for another.
December 2016
Ekow made his professional debut on 1 December 2016 in Birmingham, defeating Andrej Cepur on points.
He entered the professional game under the guidance of trainer Barrington Brown, a relationship that had already developed during his amateur years and has remained central to his career.
Ekow has described Brown as an important mentor and older-brother figure — somebody who believed he could turn him into a champion.
Learning the professional game
Early professional boxing is often far removed from championship glamour. Four-round fights, small venues, limited media attention and difficult opponents are part of building experience.
Ekow steadily built an unbeaten record while learning how the professional game differed from amateur boxing: pacing, body work, longer rounds, commercial pressure and the importance of continually improving his ability to promote and position himself.
THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL TITLE
English champion — and no longer under the radar.
Andy Keates — 2018
In October 2018, Ekow stopped Andy Keates in the fifth round to win the vacant English welterweight title.
It was the first significant professional belt of his career and moved him firmly into the competitive domestic welterweight picture.
Defending the position
He retained the English title against experienced former British champion Tyrone Nurse in March 2019 and later stopped previously unbeaten Curtis Felix Jr in November of that year.
By this stage, “The Engine” had become more than a nickname. His ability to keep applying pressure deep into fights was becoming one of his defining competitive strengths.
EUROPEAN PROGRESSION
Winning when the arena was almost empty.
Cedrick Peynaud — September 2020
During the COVID-era restrictions, Ekow faced Cedrick Peynaud at York Hall for the vacant IBF European welterweight title.
He won by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
The unusual environment provided its own performance challenge. With normal crowd energy removed, the athlete still had to create intensity internally and execute the plan.
Standards without atmosphere
For business audiences, that chapter offers a useful lesson: professional standards cannot depend entirely on external energy, recognition or applause.
Sometimes the work has to remain at championship level even when the environment feels flat.
BRITISH & COMMONWEALTH CHAMPION
Years of work finally became championship belts.
Chris Jenkins — July 2021
Ekow challenged Chris Jenkins at Wembley Arena for the British and Commonwealth welterweight championships.
After building pressure through the contest, Essuman stopped Jenkins in the eighth round and became British and Commonwealth champion.
For a boxer who had started late and spent years progressing through amateur and domestic levels, it represented a major career milestone.
Danny Ball — October 2021
His first championship defence came against the unbeaten Danny Ball in Birmingham.
Ekow produced a sixth-round knockout to retain his belts.
DEFENDING THE STANDARD
Wembley, mandatory challengers and hard twelve-round nights.
Samuel Antwi
In September 2022 he defeated mandatory challenger Samuel Antwi by unanimous decision.
The victory completed the required successful British-title defences for Ekow to win the prestigious Lonsdale Belt outright.
Chris Kongo
January 2023 brought one of the toughest domestic tests of his reign when he met Chris Kongo.
Ekow won a close majority decision, retaining his British, Commonwealth and IBF European championships and adding the WBC International Silver title.
THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEFEAT
When an unbeaten identity disappears.
Harry Scarff — November 2023
After nineteen consecutive professional victories, Ekow entered his title defence against Harry Scarff as the established champion.
Scarff disrupted that position, winning a unanimous decision over twelve rounds and taking Ekow's British, Commonwealth and IBF European championships.
What comes after 19–0?
An undefeated record can become part of an athlete's public identity. Once that disappears, the challenge is psychological as much as technical.
Ekow's next chapter became a test of whether he could use the result as information rather than allow it to define what remained possible.
REBUILDING IN 2024
One defeat changed the approach — not the ambition.
Owen Cooper — July 2024
Ekow returned against unbeaten WBO European champion Owen Cooper.
It developed into one of the most dramatic contests of his career. Both men were hurt and momentum shifted repeatedly.
Cooper appeared close to victory in the ninth round, but Ekow recovered and stopped him in the final round to capture the WBO European welterweight title.
Ben Vaughan — November 2024
Another undefeated younger challenger followed when Ekow defended the WBO European title against Ben Vaughan.
After ten competitive rounds, Essuman retained his belt by majority decision.
The two fights showed a more aggressive and adaptable version of The Engine — proof that experience does not have to mean becoming fixed in one way of performing.
CAREER-DEFINING VICTORY
Josh Taylor — walking into the lion's den.
On 24 May 2025, Ekow travelled to Glasgow for the biggest opportunity of his professional career.
Former undisputed champion vs The Engine
Josh Taylor had previously unified all four major world titles at super-lightweight and was making his move into the welterweight division.
The fight took place at Glasgow's OVO Hydro — Taylor's home environment and a setting in which Ekow entered very clearly as the visiting fighter.
Adjust rather than panic
Taylor began sharply, but Ekow grew into the contest. As the rounds progressed, his conditioning, pressure and ability to adjust became increasingly important.
After twelve rounds the judges scored the fight unanimously for Essuman: 116–113, 116–112 and 115–113.
It was the biggest victory of his professional career and earned him the vacant WBO Global welterweight title.
Why the result matters beyond boxing
The victory was not built around one explosive moment. It was built around remaining composed, collecting information and becoming increasingly effective as the contest developed.
WORLD-LEVEL PRESSURE
Jack Catterall — momentum can change quickly.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Six months after beating Taylor, Ekow faced another leading British welterweight in Jack Catterall on 15 November 2025.
The contest took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Ekow's WBO Global title at stake.
An eleventh-round ending
Catterall secured an eleventh-round stoppage in a dramatic conclusion.
For Ekow, the result demonstrated one of professional sport's hardest truths: a career-best victory does not create permanent momentum.
Each performance requires another preparation cycle, another set of decisions and another willingness to begin again.
MAY 2026
Another difficult chapter — and another lesson in judgement.
Jack Rafferty at Co-op Live
On 9 May 2026, Ekow returned at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena against unbeaten Jack Rafferty for the vacant WBA Continental Gold welterweight title.
Rafferty produced a strong performance, using his range, jab and combinations effectively.
After six completed rounds, Ekow's corner made the decision not to send him out for the seventh.
High performance includes knowing when to stop
Combat sport makes responsibility visible in an unusually direct way. Courage matters, but so does judgement.
The corner's role is not simply to demand more effort. It is also to protect the athlete when continuing no longer serves the right purpose.
The defeat moved Ekow's professional record to 22 wins, 3 losses and 8 knockouts.
PURPOSE OUTSIDE COMPETITION
Using boxing to help young people redirect their energy.
Ekow's connection to boxing extends beyond his own competitive career.
He is associated with KO Interventions, an education and mentoring organisation that uses boxing, physical activity and structured conversations to support young people facing behavioural, confidence or engagement challenges.
The organisation works with schools and young people around resilience, aspiration, self-control, confidence, positive behaviour and participation in education.
Ekow's involvement builds on mentoring he was already undertaking while part of the GB programme. Interviews from his earlier career describe him visiting local schools in Nottingham and using boxing sessions alongside mentoring conversations.
This dimension adds important context to his speaking work. His message is not simply about winning fights; it is also about helping people understand how disciplined environments can redirect energy, create confidence and build personal responsibility.
THE ENGINE MINDSET
What Ekow's career can teach organisations.
Discipline Before Motivation
Motivation changes from day to day. Repeatable standards allow performance to continue even when emotion does not provide the energy.
Confidence Through Evidence
Confidence becomes more useful when it is built from preparation, repetition and proof of work rather than positive thinking alone.
Pressure Is Information
Under pressure, small weaknesses become visible. The objective is not simply to tolerate pressure but to learn what it reveals.
Adapt Without Losing Identity
Ekow's style evolved across his career. Adaptation does not require abandoning the standards that made you effective in the first place.
Setbacks Need Analysis
The Harry Scarff defeat was followed by two strong wins and eventually the Josh Taylor victory. A poor outcome can become information for the next cycle.
Stay Coachable
A long relationship with trainer Barrington Brown illustrates the value of trust, honest feedback and remaining willing to learn after experience arrives.
KEY SPEAKING THEMES
What Ekow Essuman brings to the room.
Discipline & Daily Standards
Why the work nobody sees is usually responsible for the performance everybody eventually sees.
Performing Under Pressure
Staying calm enough to use preparation when the consequences, environment and expectations become intense.
Resilience After Setbacks
How to review a difficult result without allowing one result to become a permanent definition of capability.
Confidence Through Preparation
Replacing empty confidence with evidence built from deliberate practice, repetition and responsibility.
Adaptability
Why experienced performers still need to evolve when the environment, opposition or challenge changes.
Trust & Coaching
Building relationships strong enough for difficult feedback to be heard before the pressure arrives.
High-Performance Teams
The athlete is visible, but performance depends on coaches, preparation partners, medical support and people willing to make difficult decisions.
Personal Responsibility
Separating what cannot be controlled from the behaviours, preparation and response that remain your responsibility.
Mentoring & Potential
Lessons from using boxing to help young people develop confidence, focus, discipline and a different relationship with challenge.
CAREER TIMELINE
Ekow Essuman — from Botswana to championship boxing.
Born in Botswana
Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman is born on 30 March 1989.
Moves to Nottingham
Relocates to Britain with his family at around eleven years old and builds his life in Nottingham.
Sport becomes an outlet
Swimming and other sports help develop fitness before basketball becomes a major interest.
Discovers boxing
Starts boxing relatively late compared with many future elite fighters.
GB progression
Progresses through Great Britain's performance pathway from trials to Podium Potential and the GB Podium Squad.
British Lionhearts
Competes internationally in the World Series of Boxing and gains experience against high-level opposition.
Marketing & communications
Studies Marketing, Design and Communications while balancing academic work with elite boxing camps.
Web development
Works professionally as a junior web developer while continuing his boxing development.
Professional debut
Defeats Andrej Cepur on points in Birmingham on 1 December.
English Champion
Stops Andy Keates in five rounds to win the vacant English welterweight championship.
English title defences
Defeats Tyrone Nurse and Curtis Felix Jr while strengthening his position in the domestic division.
IBF European Champion
Defeats Cedrick Peynaud by unanimous decision to win the vacant IBF European welterweight title.
British & Commonwealth Champion
Stops Chris Jenkins in the eighth round at Wembley Arena.
Danny Ball defence
Knocks out previously unbeaten Danny Ball in round six.
Wembley Stadium
Defeats Darren Tetley on the Tyson Fury–Dillian Whyte undercard.
Samuel Antwi
Retains his championships and completes the successful defences required to secure the British Lonsdale Belt outright.
Chris Kongo
Wins a majority decision and adds WBC International Silver honours.
First professional defeat
Harry Scarff ends Ekow's unbeaten record and championship reign by unanimous decision.
Owen Cooper comeback
Recovers from difficult moments to stop unbeaten Owen Cooper in the final round and win the WBO European title.
Ben Vaughan
Defeats another unbeaten challenger by majority decision to retain the WBO European title.
Josh Taylor victory
Defeats former undisputed champion Josh Taylor by unanimous decision in Glasgow and wins the vacant WBO Global welterweight title.
Jack Catterall
Faces world-level contender Jack Catterall at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and loses by eleventh-round stoppage.
Jack Rafferty
Returns at Co-op Live in Manchester. His corner retires him after six completed rounds against unbeaten Jack Rafferty.
22–3
His professional record stands at 22 wins, 3 losses and 8 knockout victories.
AT A GLANCE
Ekow Essuman profile.
- Full name
- Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman
- Known as
- Ekow Essuman
- Nickname
- The Engine
- Born
- 30 March 1989
- Birthplace
- Botswana
- British base
- Nottingham, England
- Moved to Britain
- Around age eleven
- Primary sport
- Professional boxing
- Division
- Welterweight
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Height
- 5 ft 10 in / 178 cm
- Reach
- Approximately 66 in / 168 cm
- Trainer
- Barrington Brown
- Professional debut
- 1 December 2016
- Professional record
- 22 wins, 3 losses, 8 KOs
- Amateur pathway
- Great Britain Podium Squad and British Lionhearts / World Series of Boxing
- English title
- Won 2018
- IBF European title
- Won 2020
- British title
- Won 2021
- Commonwealth title
- Won 2021
- WBC International Silver
- Won 2023
- WBO European title
- Won 2024
- WBO Global title
- Won against Josh Taylor in 2025
- Career-best win
- Unanimous-decision victory over former undisputed champion Josh Taylor
- Education
- Marketing, Design and Communications
- Professional background
- Former junior web developer alongside boxing
- Community work
- KO Interventions — boxing-led mentoring and education support
- Speaker themes
- Discipline, resilience, preparation, pressure, confidence, adaptability, mentoring and high performance
- Event fit
- Leadership events, corporate conferences, resilience programmes, sales events, high-performance sessions, schools and facilitated conversations
EVENT FIT
Where Ekow's experience connects with audiences.
Corporate Conferences
Discipline, preparation, sustained performance and responding to pressure.
Leadership & Performance Programmes
Accountability, coaching, adaptability and standards when motivation changes.
Sports & High-Performance Events
First-hand insight from GB boxing, championship fights and world-level competition.
Resilience Sessions
Rebuilding after setbacks without allowing one outcome to define future capability.
Sales Kick-Offs
Consistency, pressure, persistence, preparation and maintaining momentum.
Youth & Education Events
Discipline, confidence, mentoring, channelled energy and personal responsibility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ekow Essuman speaker questions.
Who is Ekow Essuman?
Ekow Essuman is a Botswana-born, Nottingham-based professional boxer, former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion, former WBO European and WBO Global champion and high-performance speaker known as “The Engine”.
What is Ekow Essuman's full name?
His full name is Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman.
Why is Ekow Essuman called The Engine?
The nickname developed during his GB boxing years and reflects his sustained work-rate, combination punching, conditioning and ability to maintain pressure.
Where was Ekow Essuman born?
Ekow was born in Botswana on 30 March 1989 and moved to Nottingham in Britain at around eleven years old.
When did Ekow Essuman start boxing?
He began boxing relatively late, at around seventeen, after previously being heavily involved in other sports including basketball.
Was Ekow Essuman part of Team GB?
Yes. His amateur career progressed through the Great Britain performance pathway to the GB Podium Squad, and he competed internationally including in the World Series of Boxing for the British Lionhearts.
When did Ekow Essuman turn professional?
He made his professional debut on 1 December 2016, defeating Andrej Cepur on points in Birmingham.
What boxing titles has Ekow Essuman won?
His professional honours include the English welterweight title, IBF European title, British title, Commonwealth title, WBC International Silver title, WBO European title and WBO Global title.
When did Ekow Essuman become British and Commonwealth champion?
He defeated Chris Jenkins by eighth-round stoppage at Wembley Arena on 24 July 2021 to win the British and Commonwealth welterweight championships.
Who ended Ekow Essuman's unbeaten record?
Harry Scarff defeated Ekow by unanimous decision on 18 November 2023, ending his 19-fight unbeaten professional start.
How did Ekow Essuman rebuild after his first defeat?
In 2024 he returned with victories over two unbeaten fighters. He stopped Owen Cooper in the final round to win the WBO European title and then retained it against Ben Vaughan by majority decision.
Did Ekow Essuman beat Josh Taylor?
Yes. On 24 May 2025 Ekow defeated former undisputed super-lightweight world champion Josh Taylor by unanimous decision at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
What title did Ekow Essuman win against Josh Taylor?
He won the vacant WBO Global welterweight championship.
What happened when Ekow Essuman fought Jack Catterall?
Jack Catterall defeated Ekow by eleventh-round stoppage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 15 November 2025.
What happened in Ekow Essuman's fight with Jack Rafferty?
On 9 May 2026, Ekow faced unbeaten Jack Rafferty at Co-op Live in Manchester for the vacant WBA Continental Gold welterweight title. After six completed rounds, Ekow's corner retired him from the contest.
What is Ekow Essuman's current professional record?
Following the Jack Rafferty bout, his professional record stands at 22 wins, 3 losses and 8 knockout victories.
Who trains Ekow Essuman?
Ekow has been trained by Barrington Brown, who has been an important figure in his development since his amateur years.
What is KO Interventions?
KO Interventions is a mentoring and behaviour-support organisation associated with Ekow that uses boxing, coaching and structured programmes to help young people develop confidence, resilience, engagement and personal responsibility.
What does Ekow Essuman speak about?
His story naturally connects with discipline, preparation, performing under pressure, resilience, confidence, adaptability, mentoring, personal responsibility, coaching relationships and sustained high performance.
How can I book Ekow Essuman?
Contact The Immersion Project through the contact page or email sue@theimmersionproject.co.uk to discuss availability, format, audience and event objectives.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Public records behind this profile.
This profile has been developed from boxing records, contemporary interviews and established boxing-media coverage.
Queensberry — Ekow Essuman
Fighter biography, titles and professional background ↗
BBC Sport — Josh Taylor Victory
Coverage of Ekow's career-best Glasgow victory ↗
The Ring — 2026 Interview
Current career perspective and Jack Rafferty preparation ↗
Boxing News
Ekow Essuman interview and career perspective ↗
BOOK EKOW ESSUMAN
Bring The Engine mindset to your next event.
Ekow Essuman's story connects elite sport with something immediately useful for organisations: the difference between wanting to perform and building the standards that make performance repeatable.
From starting boxing later than many rivals and reaching the GB system, to becoming British champion, losing an unbeaten record, rebuilding and defeating an undisputed former world champion, his career offers a credible conversation about preparation, pressure, resilience and growth.
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