A long-awaited rematch headlines a Matchroom-promoted card this Saturday night, as super lightweight rivals Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall get it on again over twelve rounds at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Taylor vs Catterall is live on DAZN worldwide and on ESPN+ in the USA.
It’s a far cry though from their original meeting, as Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) went into the February 2022 clash with Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) holding all four major belts at 140 pounds.
The Scot became IBF world champion in the semi-finals of the World Boxing Super Series in 2019, and defeated Regis Prograis in the final to take the WBA ‘super’ crown as well as the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
After a routine defence, ‘The Tartan Tornado’ then secured his legacy as undisputed champion, dropping Jose Ramirez twice on the way to a tight points win to add WBC and WBO straps.
Catterall waited in the wings as WBO mandatory, and when his chance came in Glasgow, many didn’t give him a chance.
It was a scrappy affair, but the visitor dropped Taylor in the eighth, and looked like he had done enough to win, however the judges saw differently, and awarded the 33-year-old a split decision victory.
An immediate rematch didn’t materialise, as the Chorley man went through the motions in outscoring Darragh Foley in May 2023, and Taylor lost all his belts bar the WBO due to various obligations he couldn’t fulfil, and that strap, and his unbeaten record went to Teofimo Lopez, who won a unanimous decision in New York last June.
Catterall was last out in October 2023, handily winning on the cards against the faded Jorge Linares. This fight has been mooted and postponed a few times, and an April date was moved to this one due to a Taylor injury.
Prediction: Taylor hasn’t looked at his best in his last couple of fights, while Catterall has kept momentum going in his controversial defeat to the Scot first time around. This could be another scrappy affair, but I think Taylor will have prepared a lot better for Catterall this time, and can win on the scorecards.
Clarke-Zorro battle for British belt
The vacant British cruiserweight title is on the line on the undercard, as Cheavon Clarke meets Ellis Zorro.
Clarke (8-0, 6 KOs) is fresh off an impressive fourth round stoppage of Tommy McCarthy in January, while Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) took on a big challenge in the form of IBF world champion, Jai Opetaia in Saudi Arabia, and was blasted out inside a round.
Prediction: Clarke is a prospect on the rise, and he can follow Opetaia’s lead in halting Zorro early here, possibly in the first half of the fight.
Cully clashes with Patera
An interesting clash comes at lightweight, where Gary Cully (17-1, 10 KOs) can continue his comeback from a shock defeat to Jose Felix last year by taking a points win against former European champion, Francesco Patera (29-4, 11 KOs).
Donovan faces Ritson
Another tester should see the talented Paddy Donovan (13-0, 10 KOs) remain unbeaten, and the Irishman can take a win inside schedule against Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs), who is at his heaviest ever weight class, and was halted in nine by Ohara Davies in his last bout last March.
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Remaining Undercard
The sole eight rounder is at middleweight, and George Liddard (6-0, 3 KOs) can remove Graham McCormack (9-3-1, 1 KO) from battle before the final bell.
In six round action, Emmanuel Buttigieg (3-0, 1 KO) can win via stoppage against Anas Isarti (4-2) at super welterweight, and at super featherweight, Giorgio Visioli (2-0, 2 KOs) can do the same in his meeting with Sergio Obadai (6-3-1, 3 KOs).
