Jack Catterall, gets his payback against Josh Taylor in what turned into a real war at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. The scorecards? Unanimous in Jack’s favor—117-111 twice and 116-113.
This wasn’t just another scrap; it was more like a proper showdown compared to their last dance where Taylor barely squeaked by with a split decision, clinging to his undisputed junior welterweight title. This time, it was tight again, but Jack had the last laugh, and maybe now, we can all stop hearing about it.
“It’s bittersweet tonight. No world titles. I won the fight. We can close that chapter with Josh Taylor,” Catterall jabbed post-fight, sounding like a guy half-thrilled, half-miffed about missing out on the hardware. “I believe I won the fight. I took more risks this time. Josh is a tough guy, a {former} undisputed world champ. We knew the odds, but I switched it up, boxed smart, and even when I pulled back later on, I was the one calling the shots, not taking heavy hits and still landing the cleaner punches.”
Taylor, on his end, couldn’t help but tip his hat, albeit grudgingly. “Fair play to Jack. He came in harder than before. But, hey, I still think I edged it just a bit.”
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) was all business from the get-go, piling on with a sharp jab and solid lefts to keep Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) just out of reach. He nearly sent Taylor packing in the fifth with a hefty left that had Taylor hugging the ropes. Taylor clawed back in the seventh, hammering away at Catterall’s body.
Just when it looked like Taylor might turn things around, Catterall caught him cold in the 11th with a slick counter left. The twelfth round turned into a slugfest, but Catterall had already stashed enough points early on to seal the deal. After all the squawking about a robbery back in their 2022 scrap, looks like Jack finally put a lid on it—with the score evened out, one apiece.
Taylor’s already drumming up business for another go. “If he wants bigger fights, he’s earned it. But it’s square now, so why not settle it once and for all? Let’s roll it back, do a trilogy,” he said, eyeing yet another payday.
On the undercard, Cheavon Clarke took out Ellis Zorro in the eighth, snagging the British Cruiserweight Title. Paddy Donovan floored Lewis Ritson in the ninth in their welterweight tilt, and Gary Cully scored a unanimous decision over Francesco Patera in a lightweight tilt.
