Josh Taylor was controversially given the decision against Jack Catterall (right) in February 2022Venue: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Date: Saturday, 21 OctoberCoverage: Radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra from 22:15 BST; live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app.
Eighteen years of blood, sweat and tears led to this.
As the final bell chimed, Jack Catterall – having dropped and at times outclassed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor – raised both arms and unleashed an almighty roar.
The underdog, and the majority of those watching, were convinced ‘El Gato’ had pulled off the most remarkable upset to become England’s first undisputed male world champion.
Then came the scorecards. Taylor was awarded a split decision victory. Catterall shook his head in disbelief and helplessly looked across to his team, who were left equally stunned.
“You can see the celebrations at the final bell between me and the coaches. I not only won the fight but I won it by a clear margin,” Catterall tells BBC Sport.
“I’ve been doing this sport since I was 10 years old. I’d put myself in a position to fight for the pinnacle but it was taken out of my hands. I lost it all because of the incompetence of certain people.”
More than a year and a half since that “devastating” night in Glasgow, Catterall, 30, faces three-weight world champion Jorge Linares in Liverpool on Saturday.
He insists he is not looking past the Venezuelan veteran, but the ghost of the Scotsman continues to follow Catterall around.
Although he says he has moved on from the Taylor loss, Catterall still receives messages about it and is regularly questioned on their bitter feud – and a potential rematch.
“The talk of the rematch won’t go away and it would be nice to get him in the ring again,” he said. “I do believe that fight happens in the future. It’s definitely what I want.”
‘It turned people away from boxing’
Catterall has won 27 fights and lost one since turning professional in 2012
Contentious scorecards are common but the sheer magnitude of what was at stake – with Catterall missing out on winning all four recognised world titles – created uproar within the boxing community.
“We have two or three amateur gyms in the local area and I go down to them to give them advice. You see the kids, from the age of 10, coming through and dreaming of one day fighting for world titles on TV,” said Catterall.
“But for them to see what happened to me, the way it was ripped away from me, is discouraging. I still get thousands of messages from people saying they don’t tune into the sport anymore. It turned people off boxing.”
When Catterall signed to Matchroom Boxing earlier this year, promoter Eddie Hearn introduced him as “the unofficial undisputed world champion”.
The Chorley fighter’s home town took the outrage one step further – the speaker of the House of Commons and local Member of Parliament Lindsay Hoyle called for a police investigation. A local pub even temporarily renamed itself ‘The Catterall Arms’.
When Catterall slid down the WBO rankings following the loss, Taylor mockingly replied “quick, you better phone the police” on social media. Catterall responded by saying his foe was a “man with zero class”.
A rematch was agreed before Taylor withdrew through injury then opted to face American Teofimo Lopez instead, a fight which ended in a first career loss for the Edinburgh boxer.
Taylor says he is open to a Catterall rematch, with the two regularly clashing on social media, but with the caveat it takes place at welterweight.
“He’s the king of contradiction,” said Catterall. “He made the weight the best he ever has against Lopez but now he wants to move up after that beating.
“But I’d be open to negotiations. I don’t think Josh is a nice person and has said some quite silly things over the last year or so, which makes it personal now.”
‘Legend Linares dangerous but past his best’
Linares turned professional in 2002 and has won 47 fights, with eight losses
Catterall has fought just once in 18 months since the Taylor defeat, dominating Darragh Foley on points in May.
He signed with Matchroom with a view to fighting WBC light-welterweight world champion Regis Prograis, but the American will now face Devin Haney – who moved up from lightweight – in December.
“It has been frustrating but it was no fault of Regis or mine that it hasn’t happened,” said Catterall. “He had a mandatory to fight, Jose Zepeda, and then with Haney being lightweight champion and choosing to move up he had the right to get a shot straight away.”
Catterall feels a world-title shot is still “round the corner” but must first come through an opponent he describes as “a modern day legend” at the M&S Bank Arena this weekend.
Linares is a three-weight world champion with an unbeaten record against Britons, having beaten Kevin Mitchell, Luke Campbell and Anthony Crolla.
But the 38-year-old is coming off the back of three consecutive losses, having not won a bout since February 2020.
“I’m coming into the better years of my career and make no mistake, Linares has had his best years,” Catterall admitted.
“But that being said I’m switched on and I can’t afford to look past him. He’s still a dangerous opponent. He can still hit and that’s one of the last things that leaves a fighter.
“For me it’s about looking good on Saturday, then the likes of Taylor, Prograis and Haney can be mentioned.”
2023-10-21 06:21:35
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