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Why Jack Catterall cannot lose to Ekow Essuman on Eubank Jr vs Benn undercard
The eagerly anticipated rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn continues to take shape with the undercard confirmed for the November 15 blockbuster.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will once again host the event, which will be broadcast exclusively live on DAZN, and there are plenty of intriguing storylines preceding the headline bout.
One of those involves former world title challenger Jack Catterall who will face the formidable Ekow Essuman in a welterweight contest.
After failing to claim the WBO interim super lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr in February, Catterall used this defeat to start a new chapter and finally make the move to welterweight.
His first contest at 147lbs came against Harlem Eubank in July, and it was one which has been quickly erased from the minds of boxing fans. Neither man offered anything of note with an accidental head clash opening up cuts being the only highlight, albeit for the wrong reasons.
The fight was stopped in the seventh round with Catterall being declared the winner after the referee deemed ‘El Gato’ in no fit position to continue. For Catterall, this was not the welterweight debut he would have wanted.
Going up against Essuman is definitely a tougher task compared to Eubank. ‘The Engine’ made former undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor look ordinary earlier this year in a points win, and he will look to do the same against Catterall.
In the eyes of many, Catterall is someone who should have at least enjoyed a world title reign. Poor judging robbed him of beating Josh Taylor in Glasgow three years ago, but when he faced Barboza Jr, Catterall came up short in an underwhelming performance.
Some see this being a result of his no thrill fighting style, Catterall is one of British boxing’s most talented operators, but he is not someone to bring hordes of fans to arenas up and down the country.
The upcoming clash with Essuman however could change all that.
At the start of September, there was a shock announcement with Catterall announcing that he would be parting ways with longtime trainer Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, and replacing them with Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis.
Relocating to Philadelphia to join ‘Bozy’, a new set of ideas could bring a more fan friendly style from Catterall, and it could be the approach that is needed to topple Essuman.
With Eubank Jr-Benn 2 being a Ring Magazine event, those on the undercard have the perfect platform to showcase their boxing talent. Catterall needs to grab this with both hands and put on a show.
A win over Essuman on such a high-profile card will open many doors. A trip to the States to face three of the four welterweight champions could present itself. Or there is the major domestic showdown with recently crowned IBF champion Lewis Crocker who will be eager to bring a boxing carnival back to Belfast’s Windsor Park.
A loss on the other hand will have serious consequences for Catterall. The world title opportunities could fade away and could see ‘El Gato’ become a boxing ‘nearly man’ who struggles to deliver when it really matters.
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After three headline bouts in his home city of Manchester, not being the centre of attention is the reset Catterall needs for this new chapter.
But as is often the case in boxing, you can make all the changes you like outside of the ring, but if it’s a failure inside of it, it will be all for nothing.
For Catterall, the Essuman meeting is a must-win, otherwise a loss could lead to questions as to whether he can really deliver at world title level.
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