Jack Catterall has a string of tests to clear. Tonight he fights in the shadow of a rivalry now culminating in a much-anticipated rematch. Then, for the first time, he will fight without long-time trainer Jamie Moore in his corner. In a stacked division, the 32-year-old welterweight has an opportunity to fortify his position. However, in Ekow Essuman, he faces a formidable challenge, one that can easily derail Catterall’s plans.

So fans will be watching keenly. Jack Catterall‘s recent career has been overshadowed by the loss to Arnold Barboza and the tightly contested win over Harlem Eubank, Chris Eubank Jr.’s cousin. So can he overcome the odds and claim a victory? Catterall and Ekow Essuman fight on the co-main event of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn II. Billed as ‘The Unfinished Business,’ the Matchroom-BOXXER card will be streamed by DAZN. Before the event unfolds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, let’s check out how Catterall and Essuman stack up against each other.

Predicting Jack Catterall vs. Ekow Essuman: Who has better stats and a record?

Though four years older than Catterall, Essuman started his professional journey four years after the former made his debut in 2012. So the number of fights shows a clear disparity. With 33 professional bouts in his kitty, Jack Catterall records two setbacks, both split decision losses. The first one being the infamous and controversial fight against Josh Taylor. Barboza Jr. inflicted the second defeat when they met in mid-February this year.

Botswana-born Ekow Essuman has participated in 23 fights, out of which he suffered a loss in one, at the hands of Harry Scarff back in 2023.

Not much of a difference in strike rates, it seems. Both Catterall and Essuman prefer to let their techniques speak louder. While Catterall records a 42% knockout-to-win rate, Essuman has been able to stop only 36% of his 22 opponents.

Jack Catterall vs. Ekow Essuman: Height, weight, reach comparison, and more

As far as physical attributes are concerned, Catterall and Essuman mix and match each other. The former boasts a 5-foot-7-inch (170-centimeter) height. So at 5 feet and 10 inches (178 centimeters), Essuman stands taller by 3 inches. But Catterall enjoys a clear reach advantage. Against his 69-inch (175-centimeter) wingspan, Essuman records a 65.9-inch (168-centimeter) reach.

The final weigh-ins of the event are over. While Jack Catterall weighed 146.7 pounds, Ekow Essuman tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds.

Fight prediction

As in the case with the headliner, the Catterall-Essuman co-main also has a clear favorite. Though odds somehow differ, most outlets seem to favor Catterall winning the match. While some believe he has a 90% chance of winning the bout, others pitch it at a more reasonable 68%.

It looks like the loss to Barboza Jr. and the technical win over Harlem Eubank haven’t affected Catterall’s prospects. If only, they seemed to have gained momentum, especially after reports of Catterall joining Bozy Ennis’ stable emerged. The father of star Jaron Ennis is a well-renowned trainer and appears to have made visible changes to Catterall’s overall approach in the ring.

Then, barring the unanimous win over former champion Josh Taylor, Essuman’s resume doesn’t seem to generate much confidence among fans and oddsmakers.

Styles and strategy

Considering that both Catterall and Essuman prefer to box rather than hit, fans can expect a slow start, where the two would test each other before raising the tempo mid-round onwards. Jack Catterall is well known for his calculated approach. However, he’s not shy of taking risks either.

So his first task would be to prevent Essuman from applying pressure. There’s a reason why the Botswana-born fighter is called The Engine. Behind a solid chin and a powerful right hand, he slowly grinds his way to put the opponents on the back foot.

But Jack Catterall and his team remain confident. Doubting Essuman’s skills, Bozy Ennis is reported to have said, “(Essuman is) just a puncher. No defense.” Summing up his pupil’s potential moves, Ennis added, “All Jack gotta do is box him: lateral movement, inside, outside, and a lot of feints. Jack should prevail with this fight.”

So fans should wait and watch out if Catterall follows the instructions of his new corner and consolidates another high-profile win.

If Catterall wins tonight, who would you want him to fight next?