Tag: Taylor vs Catterall

Rematch?

Josh Taylor isn’t obligated to give Jack Catterall a second shot at his undisputed 140-pound championship after winning a split decision Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, Taylor’s home country.

Catterall earned it, though.

Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) was a significant favorite to successfull defend his four titles following victories over Regis Prograis and Jose Ramriez, opponents who are more accomplished than Catterall (26-1, 13 KOs).

However, Catterall arguably outperformed Prograis and Ramirez against Taylor, who went down in the eighth round and was never able to take charge of the fight between southpaws.

Catterall scored consistently with a sharp jab and straight left even if he never hurt the champion. And he did a good job of clinching when the more-aggressive Taylor got inside, further frustrating him.

Taylor went down from two overhand lefts in Round 8, which stunned the local fans and gave the challenger considerable momentum. An upset seemed to be brewing.

However, Taylor fought with more urgency from then on and had some of his stronger rounds.

Both fighters lost points for fouls, meaning they didn’t play a role in the decision.

The final scores were about as close as it gets: 114-111 and 113-112 for Taylor, 113-112 for Catterall, who shook his head in disgust when the announcement was made.

The CompuBox numbers support Catterall. He outlanded Taylor 120 (of 525) to 73 (of 306).

Taylor said afterward that he believes he deserved the decision but suggested that the pressure of defending his belts in from of his home-country fans.

“It wasn’t my best performance,” he said. “I put a hell of a lot pressure on myself this week, these couple of weeks, being my homecoming the first time in three years, the first time since lock down and all that.

“I put a hell of a lot of pressure on myself being the heavy favorite and it showed in the first half of the fight. But once I got my rhythm, I started catching him with the bigger shots.

“It wasn’t my best performance but I believe 100 percent I got the win.”

What about the rematch? Not likely.

One, Taylor said afterward that the fight on Saturday was likely his last 140 because it’s difficult for him to make that weight. And, two, he doesn’t see the decision as controversial.

“I don’t think there’s any need for a rematch,” he said. “I think I won the fight, I won the fight by a couple of rounds. I won the fight in the second half of the fight.”

Some of those who watched the fight will never agree with him.

Rematch?

Josh Taylor isn’t obligated to give Jack Catterall a second shot at his undisputed 140-pound championship after winning a split decision Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, Taylor’s home country.

Catterall earned it, though.

Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) was a significant favorite to successfull defend his four titles following victories over Regis Prograis and Jose Ramriez, opponents who are more accomplished than Catterall (26-1, 13 KOs).

However, Catterall arguably outperformed Prograis and Ramirez against Taylor, who went down in the eighth round and was never able to take charge of the fight between southpaws.

Catterall scored consistently with a sharp jab and straight left even if he never hurt the champion. And he did a good job of clinching when the more-aggressive Taylor got inside, further frustrating him.

Taylor went down from two overhand lefts in Round 8, which stunned the local fans and gave the challenger considerable momentum. An upset seemed to be brewing.

However, Taylor fought with more urgency from then on and had some of his stronger rounds.

Both fighters lost points for fouls, meaning they didn’t play a role in the decision.

The final scores were about as close as it gets: 114-111 and 113-112 for Taylor, 113-112 for Catterall, who shook his head in disgust when the announcement was made.

The CompuBox numbers support Catterall. He outlanded Taylor 120 (of 525) to 73 (of 306).

Taylor said afterward that he believes he deserved the decision but suggested that the pressure of defending his belts in from of his home-country fans.

“It wasn’t my best performance,” he said. “I put a hell of a lot pressure on myself this week, these couple of weeks, being my homecoming the first time in three years, the first time since lock down and all that.

“I put a hell of a lot of pressure on myself being the heavy favorite and it showed in the first half of the fight. But once I got my rhythm, I started catching him with the bigger shots.

“It wasn’t my best performance but I believe 100 percent I got the win.”

What about the rematch? Not likely.

One, Taylor said afterward that the fight on Saturday was likely his last 140 because it’s difficult for him to make that weight. And, two, he doesn’t see the decision as controversial.

“I don’t think there’s any need for a rematch,” he said. “I think I won the fight, I won the fight by a couple of rounds. I won the fight in the second half of the fight.”

Some of those who watched the fight will never agree with him.

Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall on Friday made weight for their junior welterweight title fight Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland (ESPN+).

Taylor came in at the division limit of 140, Catterall at 139.

The weigh-in became testy during what was meant to be a stare down. Taylor, moments after he weighed in, marched toward Catterall and placed his forehead against his foe’s as the two exchanged words.

Catterall then briefly grabbed the throat of Taylor, who did the same thing and pushed Catterall away to end the confrontation.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) will be defending his undisputed championship. The Scot unified all four major titles by outpointing Jose Ramriez in May of last year.

Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs), from England, will be taking part in his first world title fight.

The weigh-in results of other fights on the card are as follows:

• Robeisy Ramirez (126.3) vs. Eric Donovan 126.3), featherweights, 10 rounds.
• Nick Campbell (254) vs. Jay McFarlane (276), heavyweights, 10 rounds.
• Ebonie Jones (125.3) vs. Efty Kathopauli (124), featherweights, six rounds.
• John Docherty (172) vs. Jordan Grant (176.3), light heavyweights, eight rounds.

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Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall on Friday made weight for their junior welterweight title fight Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland (ESPN+).

Taylor came in at the division limit of 140, Catterall at 139.

The weigh-in became testy during what was meant to be a stare down. Taylor, moments after he weighed in, marched toward Catterall and placed his forehead against his foe’s as the two exchanged words.

Catterall then briefly grabbed the throat of Taylor, who did the same thing and pushed Catterall away to end the confrontation.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) will be defending his undisputed championship. The Scot unified all four major titles by outpointing Jose Ramriez in May of last year.

Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs), from England, will be taking part in his first world title fight.

The weigh-in results of other fights on the card are as follows:

• Robeisy Ramirez (126.3) vs. Eric Donovan 126.3), featherweights, 10 rounds.
• Nick Campbell (254) vs. Jay McFarlane (276), heavyweights, 10 rounds.
• Ebonie Jones (125.3) vs. Efty Kathopauli (124), featherweights, six rounds.
• John Docherty (172) vs. Jordan Grant (176.3), light heavyweights, eight rounds.

[lawrence-related id=28386,28378,28368]

Josh Taylor is full of bravado as the defense of his undisputed 140-pound championship against Jack Catterall on Saturday approaches.

At the same time, the Scot, who will be fighting on home soil in Glasgow, knows that he faces a real challenge in his undefeated opponent from England.

The two met face to face at a news conference Thursday. They exchanged obligatory trash talk but acknowledged that neither man is expected to have an easy time, although Taylor is a significant favorite.

“Are you ready for Saturday?” Taylor asked Catterall, according to Sky Sports. “Are you going to run? Are you going to have a fight?

Catterall responded: “Of course, I’m not going to run from him. I’m prepared to go to any place possible to get the win. I’ll meet him in the middle. No bother.”

The challenger and his handlers dismissed Taylor’s attempts to get under Catterall’s skin. And Taylor changed his tone when he wasn’t playing mind games.

“[Taylor] has tried to get a bite out of him. But it isn’t going to happen,” said Jamie Moore, Catterall’s trainer. “It won’t have a bearing on the fight.”

Taylor expressed confidence but also respect for Catterall.

“How is he going to win?” Taylor asked. “I don’t think he will meet me in the center. I think he will try to walk me onto a shot. If he’s on the front foot, that plays into my hands. I’ve studied him diligently. He is a good defensive fighter, quite slick, he can punch hard, he is a clever fighter.

“This isn’t a one-sided fight. It’s my job to make it a one-sided fight. But it’s got the makings of a tough fight.”

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) united all four major junior welterweight titles by outpointing Jose Ramirez in his most-recent fight, in May of last year.

Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs) last fought in November 2020, when he decisioned Abderrazak Houya. He’s ranked No. 1 by the WBO, making him Taylor’s mandatory challenger.

Josh Taylor is full of bravado as the defense of his undisputed 140-pound championship against Jack Catterall on Saturday approaches.

At the same time, the Scot, who will be fighting on home soil in Glasgow, knows that he faces a real challenge in his undefeated opponent from England.

The two met face to face at a news conference Thursday. They exchanged obligatory trash talk but acknowledged that neither man is expected to have an easy time, although Taylor is a significant favorite.

“Are you ready for Saturday?” Taylor asked Catterall, according to Sky Sports. “Are you going to run? Are you going to have a fight?

Catterall responded: “Of course, I’m not going to run from him. I’m prepared to go to any place possible to get the win. I’ll meet him in the middle. No bother.”

The challenger and his handlers dismissed Taylor’s attempts to get under Catterall’s skin. And Taylor changed his tone when he wasn’t playing mind games.

“[Taylor] has tried to get a bite out of him. But it isn’t going to happen,” said Jamie Moore, Catterall’s trainer. “It won’t have a bearing on the fight.”

Taylor expressed confidence but also respect for Catterall.

“How is he going to win?” Taylor asked. “I don’t think he will meet me in the center. I think he will try to walk me onto a shot. If he’s on the front foot, that plays into my hands. I’ve studied him diligently. He is a good defensive fighter, quite slick, he can punch hard, he is a clever fighter.

“This isn’t a one-sided fight. It’s my job to make it a one-sided fight. But it’s got the makings of a tough fight.”

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) united all four major junior welterweight titles by outpointing Jose Ramirez in his most-recent fight, in May of last year.

Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs) last fought in November 2020, when he decisioned Abderrazak Houya. He’s ranked No. 1 by the WBO, making him Taylor’s mandatory challenger.

Undisputed 140-pound champ Josh Taylor will defend his belts against Jack Catterall on Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland.

Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jack Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs)

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 26
• Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
• TV/Stream: ESPN+
• Cost: $6.99 per month of $69.99 per year for ESPN+
• Division: Junior welterweight
• Rounds: 12
• At stake: Taylor’s undisputed championship
• Pound-for-pound ranking: Taylor No. 11
• Odds: Tayor 10½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

• Also on the card: Robeisy Ramirez vs. Eric Donovan, featherweights; Nick Campbell vs. Jay McFarlane, heavyweights
• Prediction: Taylor UD
• Background: Taylor will be making his first appearance since unifying all the 140-pound belts by outpointing Jose Ramirez in May of last year in Las Vegas. The tough, gifted Scot put Ramirez down twice, which proved to be the difference in the otherwise closely contested showdown. The victory made Taylor the first undisputed champion from Britain in the four-belt era. He has defeated five consecutive unbeaten opponents, Ryan Martin, Ivan Baranchyk, Regis Prograis, Apinun Khongsong and Ramirez. Three of them – Baranchyk, Prograis and Ramirez – were world titleholders at the time. Could Catterall be next? The Englishman, coming off a wide decision over Avderrazak Houya in November 2020, has maintained his perfect record to climb to the top of the WBO’s 140-pound rankings but is taking a significant step up in class against Taylor and has no experience on such a big stage. His most notable victories were close decisions over Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies in 2018. Catterall took step-aside money so Taylor and Ramirez could fight.

[lawrence-related id=28368,20485,20480,20474]

Undisputed 140-pound champ Josh Taylor will defend his belts against Jack Catterall on Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland.

Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jack Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs)

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 26
• Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
• TV/Stream: ESPN+
• Cost: $6.99 per month of $69.99 per year for ESPN+
• Division: Junior welterweight
• Rounds: 12
• At stake: Taylor’s undisputed championship
• Pound-for-pound ranking: Taylor No. 11
• Odds: Tayor 10½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

• Also on the card: Robeisy Ramirez vs. Eric Donovan, featherweights; Nick Campbell vs. Jay McFarlane, heavyweights
• Prediction: Taylor UD
• Background: Taylor will be making his first appearance since unifying all the 140-pound belts by outpointing Jose Ramirez in May of last year in Las Vegas. The tough, gifted Scot put Ramirez down twice, which proved to be the difference in the otherwise closely contested showdown. The victory made Taylor the first undisputed champion from Britain in the four-belt era. He has defeated five consecutive unbeaten opponents, Ryan Martin, Ivan Baranchyk, Regis Prograis, Apinun Khongsong and Ramirez. Three of them – Baranchyk, Prograis and Ramirez – were world titleholders at the time. Could Catterall be next? The Englishman, coming off a wide decision over Avderrazak Houya in November 2020, has maintained his perfect record to climb to the top of the WBO’s 140-pound rankings but is taking a significant step up in class against Taylor and has no experience on such a big stage. His most notable victories were close decisions over Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies in 2018. Catterall took step-aside money so Taylor and Ramirez could fight.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

Josh Taylor believes that he is such a strong fighter in Glasgow that even King Kong would struggle to beat him.

Kong is a fictitious gigantic ape with little to no boxing experience and no professional record, while Taylor is the undisputed champion at 140 pounds.  The Scot will defend his belts against Jack Catterall on Saturday (ESPN+) in his home country.

The fight will take place at The SSE Hydro, where Taylor has fought four times.

“I am very confident in my ability, very confident in winning this fight. I know I am going to win, hands down,” he told Sky Sports. “It would have to be someone like King Kong to beat me in here. Even then, I think it would be a hard task for King Kong.

“I feel a giant inside the Hydro, [the fans] make me feel like I am unbeatable.”

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Speaking of the pair’s earlier meeting at the fight announcement press conference, 31-year-old Taylor sees his rival as on the back foot.

“I saw a little bit of self-doubt from him,” Taylor said. “You can’t take too much from it but it’s letting him know I believe I am the better fighter and he is going to have to come out here and really steal it off me to get this victory.

“I don’t think he will do it. There will be nothing other than a Josh Taylor win. I do believe I can knock him out and stop him but I won’t go looking for it.

“I know I can outbox him, outfight him, outthink him as well. I feel I have got the better of him in every department of the game.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

Josh Taylor believes that he is such a strong fighter in Glasgow that even King Kong would struggle to beat him.

Kong is a fictitious gigantic ape with little to no boxing experience and no professional record, while Taylor is the undisputed champion at 140 pounds.  The Scot will defend his belts against Jack Catterall on Saturday (ESPN+) in his home country.

The fight will take place at The SSE Hydro, where Taylor has fought four times.

“I am very confident in my ability, very confident in winning this fight. I know I am going to win, hands down,” he told Sky Sports. “It would have to be someone like King Kong to beat me in here. Even then, I think it would be a hard task for King Kong.

“I feel a giant inside the Hydro, [the fans] make me feel like I am unbeatable.”

[lawrence-related id=28340,20485,20434]

Speaking of the pair’s earlier meeting at the fight announcement press conference, 31-year-old Taylor sees his rival as on the back foot.

“I saw a little bit of self-doubt from him,” Taylor said. “You can’t take too much from it but it’s letting him know I believe I am the better fighter and he is going to have to come out here and really steal it off me to get this victory.

“I don’t think he will do it. There will be nothing other than a Josh Taylor win. I do believe I can knock him out and stop him but I won’t go looking for it.

“I know I can outbox him, outfight him, outthink him as well. I feel I have got the better of him in every department of the game.”