Ezra Taylor says his loss to Willy Hutchinson was a blessing in disguise, with the defeat forcing him to rethink both his training and his mindset as he prepares for his return. For a fighter who started boxing at 19 and worked on the checkouts in Tesco before his rise, the response has been as important as the setback itself.
That defeat came just over a decade after Taylor first took up the sport and followed one major opportunity he had chased so hard. But instead of allowing it to define him in a negative way, Taylor says it has pushed him towards a healthier balance between the demands of boxing and the rest of his life.
Why Taylor sees the loss differently
Speaking about the setback, Taylor was open about how much pressure he had placed on himself before the fight. He said he had started thinking, “I’ve got to get this right,” and admitted that he wanted to win so badly that losing felt like the end of the world at the time.
Now, though, he views it differently. “As crazy as it sounds, I’m happy that I lost,” Taylor said. The reason is simple: the defeat made him step back and reassess how he prepares, how he handles pressure and how he separates Ezra “The Cannon” Taylor from Ezra Taylor away from the ring.
That distinction matters to him. Taylor said most of the conversations in camp have been about separating the boxer from the person, because he had begun to see himself as a robot. Boxing may be his identity, but he is also a father and has a partner and family, and he has been clear that he cannot shut those parts of himself off.
A new approach in Los Angeles
Taylor is currently in training camp in Los Angeles working with Malik Scott, and he says the experience has been gruelling. But it has also been productive, with adjustments being made to his preparation as he gets ready to return to action.
The key, in Taylor’s view, is not simply harder work. It is finding the right balance. “You’ve got to find a balance because, if not, it’s going to eat you alive,” he said, adding that the real goal is to enjoy what he is doing rather than allow boxing to consume everything.
That mentality shift could prove just as valuable as any technical tweak. Fighters often talk about confidence, but Taylor’s reflections suggest he now understands the importance of perspective, too. In practical terms, that may help him arrive at his next fight less burdened and better able to perform naturally.
Home, family and the next phase
As the camp nears its end, Taylor plans to return to Nottingham to finalise preparations and spend time with family, friends and Bilborough Boxing Club. He said he loves coming home after the intensity of training in America, and that he will also visit the club and see the kids who look up to him.
There is a clear sense that the loss to Willy Hutchinson has changed more than just the next training camp. It has altered Taylor’s outlook, his routine and the way he thinks about pressure. That is why he is now framing the defeat as part of his development rather than a moment to regret.
For Taylor, the next step is about carrying that lesson forward. If the reset in Los Angeles helps him box with a clearer head and a better balance, then the defeat he once feared may end up being the moment that moved his career on.
