Jack Catterall can’t wait to show that the utterly aggressive nature of his first battle with Josh Taylor wasn’t in any respect the byproduct of Taylor underestimating him.
Taylor informed IFL TV throughout a latest interview that he ignored Catterall and carried out accordingly throughout their 12-round, 140-pound title battle in February 2022 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. The Scottish southpaw gained their bout by break up resolution, but he has dealt for almost two years with backlash from factions of followers, Catterall and his rival’s workforce relating to the official final result of their battle for Taylor’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
England’s Catterall thought their rematch would’ve occurred way back, however he expressed optimism relating to their handlers reaching an settlement quickly for he and Taylor to battle once more in “March, April.” The skillful southpaw additionally acknowledged that it has been tough for him to attend virtually two years for this 12-round rematch throughout his personal interview with IFL TV, which was posted to the outlet’s YouTube channel Saturday.
“It’s irritating,” Catterall stated, “however once more, I can solely management my variables, which is being prepared, being within the fitness center and doing me finest to place me self in a finest place for all these large fights. However I believe second time round, I believe a battle between us must occur. Once I do put him to mattress, it does cement me place with the highest boys at 140, to go and battle [Teofimo] Lopez, to go and battle [Devin] Haney, [Ryan] Garcia, etcetera. It’s a battle that should occur, and it’s a battle that should occur now.”
Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) additionally admitted that he has grown weary from exchanging trash discuss with Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs). Understandably bored with debating the controversial results of their battle with Taylor, who gained a break up resolution, the usually cordial Catterall is concentrated on delivering a extra convincing efficiency of their rematch, assuming their representatives full a deal for it.
“It type of bores me now,” Catterall stated of the continued debate about their first battle. “It’s been going forwards and backwards, however it’s nonetheless capturing the general public’s creativeness. Everyone’s nonetheless within the battle, however it must occur now. March, April is when me and Josh have accepted the battle. And I simply can’t wait to smash his head in and be achieved with all of it. I’ve been in Dubai a pair weeks now, coaching, and getting stopped by individuals they usually’re nonetheless speaking in regards to the first battle, which is arising [on] two years in the past. So, for me, I have to put him to mattress.”
Taylor, 33, and Catterall, 30, have been scheduled to battle once more final March 4 at OVO Hydro, the identical venue the place Taylor edged Catterall on the scorecards. Their rematch was postponed late final January as a result of Taylor sustained a foot damage whereas coaching.
Taylor-Catterall II wasn’t rescheduled final yr as a result of the WBO ordered Taylor to as an alternative make a mandated protection of its 140-pound championship towards Teofimo Lopez. A motivated, sharp Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) upset Taylor by unanimous resolution June 10 in The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He might be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.