FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS — Jack Catterall battled to hard-earned revenge over Josh Taylor as he claimed a unanimous decision win in their all-British super lightweight grudge match.
Two years and three months on from their highly controversial first fight in Glasgow, when then undisputed 140lbs champion Taylor was dropped but escaped with a disputed split decision, the pair finally reconvened to produce an instant classic.
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) opened up a handy lead at halfway as Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) looked to be growing old in the ring. However, the Scot responded superbly during the middle round and appeared to hurt Catterall with a couple of crisp southpaw lefts towards the end of the seventh.
But his English rival would not be denied and prevailed by verdicts of 117-111 (twice, which felt far too wide) and 116-113 on the judges’ scorecards.
Catterall labelled his victory “bittersweet” given this time around there were no world titles on the line. That must surely follow for a fighter who has done more than his fair share of waiting.
Taylor’s veteran promoter Bob Arum labelled the scorecards a “disgrace” and pledged never to have his fighters fight under the British Boxing Board of Control again. His fighter wants a trilogy, though, and there will be a huge market for that fight now.
Bob Arum makes his feelings known 🤐#TaylorCatterall2 pic.twitter.com/1t7FM0GDmw
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) May 25, 2024
WATCH: Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall 2, exclusively on ESPN+
After ferocious introductions, Catterall had the better of the opener as he largely won the jab exchanges and had success chopping down on the left hook to catch Taylor coming in.
Taylor looked to start round two in sharper fashion, only to run into a flurry from his opponent. The Scot landed a meaty left around the side of Catterall’s body, only for an accidental head clash to momentarily halt the action. When they resumed, Taylor again forced the pace but shipped some heavy shots from his retreating foe.
Another head clash provided a false start to the third, after which Taylor finally got a return for his pressure, leaving Catterall monetarily disorganised before firing back and bringing the capacity crowd to their feet.
By this stage the bull vs. matador act was set, even if Taylor was impressively light on his feet for a man playing the former role. For all the time passed, they’d picked up the threads from their first encounter seamlessly. The end of round four, when Taylor pressed forward with the greater volume only to be caught by some clattering Catterall headshot being a case in point.
Buoyed by that success, Catterall fired assertively off the jab at the start of the fifth. When he thudded home a backhand left, Taylor was forced to reverse out of harm’s way. The Englishman unloaded during the closing seconds — again leaving nothing to chance when it came to catching the eye of the judges — and Taylor desperately tied his man up as he was bundled into the ropes.
Visible swelling around Taylor’s right eye only added to his problems at halfway and he looked to put his foot down in round seven, seemingly sensing a glittering elite-level career slipping away. A left to Catterall’s temple was his best work of the fight and a repeat dose saw his man sag and brought throaty roars from the travelling support.
A whipping lead right hook from Taylor gave further notice that the tide might have sensationally turned. Catterall returned to his jab in the ninth but the former undisputed super lightweight champion was no longer so dissuaded. Rat-a-tat head shots discomforted Catterall, who traded wildly before the bell but the scorecards were closing up again.
Both men appeared to be feeling the pace in round 10, although Taylor was now beating his man to the punch. The penultimate session also saw him land some withering shots to Catterall’s midsection. Another problem for the Chorley hero was that his previously immaculate jab had lost its pop.
Then another twist. As Taylor shuffled in, Catterall sat down on a left hook. The former world champion ambled back towards the neutral corner, grabbed on and avoided the knockdown.
THE HATE RUNS DEEP 👀
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 25, 2024
We go to the scorecards next ❗#TaylorCatterall2 pic.twitter.com/xo5PqNjABl
Once again, it all came down to the 12th... or so it seemed. For all their enmity, Taylor and Catterall had shared something brutally profound. Catterall switched his attack from head to body, then retreated and the man who has been his obsession for the past two-and-a-half years scampered after him one more time, with burning desire through closing vision. Both wore headshots inside the final 10 seconds, and both celebrated victory.
This time it belonged to Catterall, with Taylor forced to nurse a second-consecutive loss after his reverse to Teofimo Lopez last year. These two bitter rivals might have to do it all again.
WATCH: Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall 2, live on DAZN
Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall 2 fight card
- Josh Taylor def. Jack Catterall (UD 12); Super Lightweights
- Cheavon Clarke def. Ellis Zorro (KO 8/12) to win the vacant British cruiserweight title
- Paddy Donovan def. Lewis Ritson (TKO 9/10); Welterweights
- Gary Cully def. Francesco Patera (UD 10); Lightweights
- Giorgio Visioli def. Sergio Odabai (TKO 4/6); Lightweights
- George Liddard def. Graham McCormack (KO 1/8); Middleweights
- Leli Buttigieg def. Ana Isarti (PTS 8); Super Welterweights
