Jack Catterall found a way to seal the victory this time.
The threat of fading midway through the fight gave way to goodwill towards the end as Catterall overtook Scot Josh Taylor within twelve rounds. There was no controversial ending in the second act. Catterall won by scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 116-113 in a thrilling rematch on Saturday at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
This time there was neither a ring nor an undisputed championship at stake, but Catterall still felt like a king in the end.
“Tonight is bittersweet,” Catterall said after his best-ever victory. “No world titles, but I won the fight and I can close this chapter with Josh Taylor.
“I took more risks this time.”
Catterall had been waiting for redemption for over two years, with many feeling he deserved a bow heading into the February 2022 Championship. Taylor (19-2, 13 knockouts) survived an eighth-round knockout to secure a highly questionable split decision victory in Glasgow, Scotland.
Catterall’s undoing on the night was allowing Taylor to get back into the fight in the final rounds.
Taylor was forced to make up ground that evening and fell into the same trap in the rematch, which followed several delays. It wasn’t for lack of effort, as the former undisputed champion was more decisive in his attack.
However, Catterall’s stiff right jab was the overwhelming difference in the first two rounds. The English southpaw kept Taylor at bay and controlled the pace.
The time was called in the second when both fighters grimaced and turned away after clashing heads. Referee Kevin Parker looked at both fighters before allowing the fight to resume.
Taylor picked up the pace in the third round, which was his cleanest round to date. Catterall was still in place to respond, but Taylor was able to take his opponent down with a series of punches. Another collision of heads caused a miniature break in the action. Catterall ended the round with a bruise under his left eye.
He started the fourth round with a fresh goal.
A significant change in momentum occurred when Catterall took on his fierce rival. Taylor seemed to have found his rhythm but was injured slow on when Catterall was picked out with a left-hander.
Catterall doubled and tripled with a jab in the fifth round. The combination hit home as Taylor was unable to respond. Taylor was in trouble slow in the round when Catterall let go of his hands, pinning the Scot to the ropes.
Taylor was clearly well behind until the sixth second, but turned things around in the second half. His furious comeback in the first fight came in the final rounds after he was eliminated in the eighth round. The rally came early this time as he significantly hurt and outworked Catterall in the seventh set.
These good fortunes carried over to the eighth. Taylor found a home for his left arm on the body. The shots down below clearly had an impact on Catterall, which Taylor took advantage of before turning his attack upstairs.
Catterall’s body language suggested premature fading. He briefly regained momentum in the top of the ninth, but Taylor continued to land more telling punches.
Taylor continued his attack in the tenth. Catterall was clearly affected by body shots and hard-fighting fatigue. His power shots lacked the pop he had early in the fight. Meanwhile, Taylor looked stronger as he continued to perform and initiate most of the rallies.
As the fight threatened to slip away, Catterall rediscovered his rhythm. A counter left hand caught Taylor in the chin and immediately changed the course of the fight. Catterall moved on, but both fighters fell to the canvas after the clinch. Another left hand from Catterall broke up a much-needed rebound in a tight contest.
Catterall left nothing to chance in the 12thvol and the final round. Taylor aimed for the body but failed to repeat the success he had midway through the entertaining affair. Catterall was a step ahead during each exchange and this was reflected on the scorecards, unlike in the first fight.
Taylor has now lost two in a row. At the beginning of last year he was supposed to fight a rematch with Catterall. Scheduling conflicts and Taylor’s training camp injuries resulted in several postponements.
The fight was canceled entirely as Taylor – who had already been vacated of his WBC, WBA and IBF belts – fought Teofimo Lopez instead. This resulted in the first defeat of his career, as Lopez won a decision to become The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion.
Catterall (29-1, 13 KO) won two decisions in 2023 to atone for the delayed rematch. He has now won three in a row and will likely have a shot at the title in his next outing.
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