After his controversial split decision loss to then undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor in 2022, Jack Catterall felt he was robbed and wanted revenge.
On Saturday night, Catterall got his revenge as he defeated Taylor by unanimous decision in the 12-round junior welterweight main event at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
Catterall won by scores of 117-111(2x) and 116-113.
While he wished belts were on the line, Catterall is happy to get the win over Taylor.
“It’s bittersweet tonight—no world titles. I won the fight. We can close that chapter with Josh Taylor,” Catterall said. “Listen, I believe I won the fight. I took more risks this time. Josh is an elite operator, {former} undisputed world champion. We knew we were up against it, but I went through the gears, boxed with my smarts, and even in the second half of the fight, the rounds that I was more reserved, I was controlling the pace and wasn’t getting hit with big punches. And I was landing clean.”
Taylor, like his promoter Bob Arum, who made it clear that he thought Taylor won, believes he did enough to get the victory.
“I thought it was a great fight. Fair play to Jack. He was a better fighter than the first fight,” Taylor said. “But, listen, I thought I just nicked the fight, to be fair.”
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) pressed the action in the early rounds, using an educated jab and crisp left hands to keep Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) at arm’s length. In round five, he had one of his best moments when a left hand pushed Taylor into — and nearly over — the ropes. Taylor rebounded with a big seventh round, digging ferocious body shots into Catterall’s midsection.
When it appeared Taylor was regaining the momentum, Catterall stunned him in the 11th with a counter left hand. The 12th round was a back-and-forth stanza, but Catterall had banked enough early rounds on the scorecards.
Now, Catterall wants to get a shot at WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez.
“I was mandatory for the WBO title for what felt like a lifetime,” he said. “He beat Taylor before I did. We’ve both had a win over him and now I want to prove that I’m better than him. I believe I’ve got the style to beat Lopez, and that’s the fight I want.
“It’s time to share the ring with you (Teofimo Lopez). Let’s see who the true champion is.”
Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.
In other results:
Cruiserweight: Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs) KO 8 Ellis Zorro (17-2, 7 KOs), 2:59. Clarke wins British Cruiserweight Title.
Welterweight: Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) TKO 9 Lewis Ritson (23-4, 13 KOs), :32.
Lightweight: Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs) UD 10 Francesco Patera (29-5, 11 KOs), Scores: 98-92 and 96-94 2x.
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