LEEDS, England – The rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall was an stimulating fight that was watched by an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday night, but the result still leaves many questions for both fighters to answer.
Catterall, 30, of Lancashire, England, won by unanimous decision, but controversy once again flared up. Taylor’s promoter Bob Arum criticized the scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 116-113 as “a disgrace”. Even Catterall’s promoter Eddie Hearn agreed that the majority of votes were in favor of his fighter.
The fight was fascinating from the first to the last bell, but neither fighter was able to overtake the other. Maybe it’s just a matter of them having each other’s number. After 24 rounds, opinions will still be divided on who is actually the better of the two.
Up front, Hearn described the fight as a career-defining one. So where do the fierce rivals find themselves at the end of it all?
Catterall (29-1, 13 KO) proved that the first fight between both fighters, which many believed he deserved, was not a one-off appearance. He has more than shown that he can handle a top opponent and is not afraid of the glowing lights. He used his jab to great effect in both fights, controlling pace and distance while frustrating Taylor (19-2, 13 KO). There is no doubt that he hurt Taylor; however, he could not finish the job, and the fight was closer than the cards suggested.
Catterall’s camp quickly quashed rumors of a trilogy that would immediately follow. He waited too long and performed too well to wait any longer for a shot at the belt.
And Catterall knows who he wants.
“Lopez,” Catterall said during the post-fight press conference, referring to WBO titleholder Teofimo Lopez. “I was a mandatory member of the WBO for what seemed like my whole life. He beat Taylor before me, we both got the win over him and I want to prove I’m better than him. I believe I have the style to beat Lopez and that’s the fight I want.
The world champion title has always been my dream. We didn’t win the undisputed title, it’s okay, this chapter has already been written. But I’m in a great position, Eddie has a great stable at 140 pounds and I want that world title fight.”
Hearn also introduced IBF champion Subriel Matias and WBC champion Devin Haney, both of whom he is working with, as potential opponents.
“One thing we know is that the next one will be a large fight. If I had a choice, I would choose the world title,” Hearn said. “Of course people talk about the trilogy, for me I will always look at the biggest fights, but right now it’s about Jack Catterall’s career. He should have been the undisputed world champion. We have to try and put him in position now for a world title fight, when you have a performance like that and you have a night like that, putting someone in position is a lot easier because people want to see it.
Hearn also targeted Lopez’s next fight against Steve Claggett, scheduled for June 29 in Miami.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to Steve Claggett, but it’s a bloody disgrace, it’s a joke. Teofimo Lopez after good victory over Josh Taylor says he is the best 140-pound fighter in the world, this is the guy [Catterall] who should fight Teofimo Lopez. We believe he will beat him all day.”
Perhaps the current level between the current champions and Catterall is even higher, but the Englishman passed the test against Taylor and deserves his chance.
What about Taylor?
He showed that he still had the fire in him. He looked much better than he did in the first fight, when he admitted he took Catterall lightly. This time he looked fitter and more focused, but he couldn’t fully control the dynamics. Whenever he thought he had Catterall in the corner, the younger fighter fended off the most brutal shots and came back firing.
In a division as powerful as the junior welterweight division, there are large fights to be made, but two straight losses leave Taylor, 33, of Edinburgh, Scotland, with some work to do.
Does he still want to climb the mountain? Is a move to welterweight finally taking place after years of consideration? Would he prefer a trilogy?
“Honestly, I think I just stopped the fight. But listen, be fair to Jack, he won this fight and listen, let’s do a third fight. Why not? It was a good fight,” Taylor said. “If he wants to keep fighting and get into bigger fights, he deserves it. He won that fight, but I think it’s just one fight. So let’s do it. Let’s do it. Let’s take up the challenge.”
Regardless of the decision, Taylor’s legacy has already been cemented. Undisputed world champion and one of the best players Scotland has ever produced, ‘Tartan Tornado’ deserves all the respect in the world.
Whether this means he still belongs to the elite, or even wants to be one, time will tell.
In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).
The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00
“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”
Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.
“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
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