Jack Catterall vs. Ekow Essuman Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Jack Catterall and Ekow Essuman each count a victory over Josh Taylor, adding to their respective ring grit and savvy.

On Saturday night, they’ll apply that experience and more against each other as Catterall clashes with Essuman in the co-main event to the highly anticipated Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch headliner. It all takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, and live, only on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

BUY NOW HERE: Eubank Jr. vs Benn II live and exclusive on DAZN PPV for £24.99 / $59.99

Catterall (31-2, 13 KOs) enters this bout having produced a unanimous technical decision over Harlem Eubank in July, as the match was brought to a halt after both fighters suffered nasty gashes due to an accidental clash of their heads.

Though it wasn’t pretty, the Chorley man got back into the win column following his February split-decision loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. He will be up against a sturdy Essuman (22-1, 8 KOs), who shockingly upset Taylor his last time out in May.

With the boxing world watching, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for Catterall and Essuman heading into their chief support tilt.

Jack Catterall’s Keys to Victory

Utilize feints, inside-outside movement

Ekow Essuman is named ‘The Engine’ for a reason. He is going to make Jack Catterall work.

Knowing that, Catterall should utilize some of his solid boxing tactics, such as feints and inside-outside movement.

The key to this strategy for Catterall would be to pick up the activity and carve out open lanes against a busy, well-conditioned Essuman without losing who he is as a fighter.

Time the left hook in traffic

Catterall enjoys stalking opponents enduringly, timing his heavy-handed left hook for just the right moment.

Many times this opportunity comes in traffic. When Essuman whiffs with the right hand, Catterall should look to unleash a left hook across the jaw or to the temple.

Connecting with this shot with timing could prove patience pays off in the form of a fight-altering or -ending punch.

Increase the volume

If there is a knock to Catterall’s style, it might be that he is sometimes overly patient and subsequently bogs himself down in waiting for the perfect punch.

This cost him severely against Barboza Jr. in February as the latter was able to defeat Catterall with volume punching, taking the fight to the British boxer.

Catterall must be conscious of this and actively let his hands go more.

Increasing his punch volume will put the Chorley man in position to unload more pointed output to blast Essuman with and pave the way for a big 2026.

Ekow Essuman’s Keys to Victory

Pressure steadily

Ekow Essuman has ‘The Engine’ to bring the fight to a patient Jack Catterall by producing steady pressure.

Naturally, Essuman fights forward. This pressure is not always overwhelming, but as long as it is steady and can put Catterall on the back foot at times, Essuman has a chance to dictate the flow of this chief support bout.

This pressure must start early and gain momentum as the bout goes on.

Make deposits to the body

Already in possession of a solid right hand, Essuman can make use of the weapon, cranking and digging with it at Catterall’s body.

Landing this shot consistently can brush Catterall back and force him to reset his offense, frustrating the 32-year-old along the way.

Aim for high output

Understanding that Catterall likes to download intel in real time and set up timely shots, Essuman must disrupt that patience with a constant forward-fighting flow.

That means being the aggressor with his pressure, as aforementioned, and attempting more punches than Catterall.

Increasing his punch count could be the Botswana-British fighter’s best chance to make it 2-for-2 in upsets in what would be a statement 2025 toward a lucrative 2026.

Watch Eubank Jr. vs Benn 2 only on DAZN

Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn's much-anticipated rematch and Jack Catterall vs. Ekow Essuman are live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday, November 15. Buy the PPV for £24.99 UK / $59.99 US. 

Or subscribe to DAZN Ultimate Tier to get Eubank Jr. versus Benn and a minimum of 12 PPVs included in your annual subscription. Meaning no extra PPV costs.

For more information and to buy or subscribe, click here.