JACKED UP! Jack Catterall Defeats Josh Taylor in Leeds Classic
It was a far more fan-friendly affair than their first encounter, which Taylor edged by split decision to retain his undisputed junior welterweight title. The rematch was also a tight contest, but Catterall prevailed by scores of 117-111 2x and 116-113.
“It’s bittersweet tonight. No world titles. I won the fight. We can close that chapter with Josh Taylor,” Catterall said. “Listen, I believe I won the fight. I took more risks this time. Josh is an elite operator, {former} undisputed world champion. We knew we were up against it, but I went through the gears, boxed with my smarts, and even in the second half of the fight, the rounds that I was more reserved, I was controlling the pace and wasn’t getting hit with big punches. And I was landing clean.”
“I thought it was a great fight. Fair play to Jack. He was a better fighter than the first fight,” Taylor said. “But, listen, I thought I just nicked the fight, to be fair.”
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) pressed the action in the early rounds, using an educated jab and crisp left hands to keep Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) at arm’s length. In round five, he had one of his best moments when a left hand pushed Taylor into — and nearly over — the ropes. Taylor rebounded with a big seventh round, digging ferocious body shots into Catterall’s midsection.
When it appeared Taylor was regaining the momentum, Catterall stunned him in the 11th with a counter left hand. The 12th round was a back-and-forth stanza, but Catterall had banked enough early rounds on the scorecards. After cries of robbery following their February 2022 showdown, Catterall had evened the rivalry—one apiece.
Taylor said, ”
If he wants to go and challenge for bigger fights, he deserves it. But it’s one apiece, so let’s do it. Let’s do a trilogy.”
In other results:
Cruiserweight: Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs) KO 8 Ellis Zorro (17-2, 7 KOs), 2:59. Clarke wins British Cruiserweight Title.
Welterweight: Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) TKO 9 Lewis Ritson (23-4, 13 KOs), :32.
Lightweight: Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs) UD 10 Francesco Patera (29-5, 11 KOs), Scores: 98-92 and 96-94 2x.
