When the last bell rang at the end of Jack Catterall’s fight with Josh Taylor in February, it should have been the best day of ‘El Gato’s’ life with endless opportunities ahead of him.
In contrast, however, poor judgment stole that moment from Catterall and since then things have gone from bad to worse.
Laurent Lustig/BOXXER
Ian John Lewis scored the fight 114-111 in favor of Taylor and was later demoted by the British Boxing Board of Control
After the obvious frustration of losing a fight that every man and dog believed Catterall had won, there was the slight consolation that Taylor seemed open to an immediate rematch.
Initially, Taylor suggested the pair meet again at welterweight, as he posted on social media saying, “My days at 140 are numbered. My future is at welterweight. Jack Catterall deserves another title shot, and sooner rather than later.
“I have never ducked a challenge in my career, and I would be happy to fight Jack again, but it would have to be at welterweight. Jack is a great sportsman, an infernal fighter, and deserves all the admiration he receives. »
It now appears that will not be the case, as Top Rank chairman Todd Du Boeuf has told Sky Sports that Taylor will stay at 140lbs and fight his WBC mandatory Jose Zepeda.
It’s safe to say Catterall didn’t take the news well, as he told talkSPORT, “I think Top Rank will have their story because people who don’t know Top Rank have both Zepeda and Josh and they’ll want to keep that fight in the house Win, lose or draw, Top Rank has the belts.
“I believe there’s only one fight for Josh at 140lbs and that’s against me…At the end of the day he can’t go fight Zepeda and if he does he’s not not a man of his word.
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Taylor defended his undisputed titles against Catterall but has since been forced to vacate his WBA belt
“He said we would have a rematch at welterweight or a catchweight, but now he has decided to stay at 140 pounds. The fans call it, I call it, it’s an easy fight, let’s go.
To make matters worse, even after appealing Catterall was not reinstated as a WBO mandatory, sitting third in their rankings behind Jose Ramirez and Liam Paro, so the Lancashire man will have to wait in line if he does. he wants another shot at the world. Title.
“I won the WBO European title in 2014,” Catterall said, “In the meantime I won the British title, but I defended the WBO Intercontinental title, which is linked below the World title, I’ve defended him ten times.
“I’ve never turned down an opponent, I’ve always kept my end of the bargain, I’ve always paid my penalty fee, I’ve done everything I was asked to do.
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Catterall celebrated after the final bell of his clash with Taylor thinking he had won, but it was not to be
“Then it gets to this point, you pay your penalty fee and you get pissed off and that’s the only way I can describe it.”
Despite the setbacks, Catterall is determined to get back to the top, as he told talkSPORT that even if he doesn’t get a rematch with Taylor, he will fight anyone in an eliminator, citing the likes of Teofimo Lopez , Jose Ramirez and Regis Prograis as potential next opponents.
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