Photo Credit Mikey Williams/Top Rank
LEEDS, England — After 27 months of debate, Jack “El Gato” Catterall finally got his revenge. Catterall defeated Josh Taylor by unanimous decision in the 12-round junior welterweight main event Saturday at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
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.
