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Jack Catterall, British boxing's unluckiest fighter
Jack Catterall is finally on the brink of a world title shot when he takes on Arnold Barboza Jr this Saturday live on DAZN.
The road however has been one of many bumps, from step asides to controversial decisions to a change in promoters, many British fight fans are frustrated by how Catterall has been treated despite being one of this country’s best at 140lbs.
Now it feels like Catterall finally has the goodwill of the boxing gods and is on the brink of something special.
Step aside for history, only to be rewarded with poor decision
At the start of 2019, Catterall was named the mandatory challenger for the WBO super lightweight title which had been held by Maurice Hooker before he lost the title in a unification clash with Jose Ramirez in July of that year.
However, Catterall’s mandatory challenge against Ramirez failed to materialise due to the classic nature of boxing politics, and he even took ‘step aside’ money to allow Josh Taylor to face Ramirez for the undisputed title.
Taylor came out on top in what was a historic night for British boxing in May 2021 and as per the ‘step aside’ agreement, Gave Catterall his shot at glory.
Taking place in Glasgow the following February, it was a contest shrouded in controversy with Taylor being declared the winner on a split decision despite being knocked down in round eight and deducted a point in round 11 for punching after the bell.
This was a result which sparked outrage throughout the boxing world, and it even prompted a mention in the House of Commons!
As a result of an ending such as this, it would be expected an immediate rematch would follow, but Catterall was forced to bide his time, and it felt like his career had taken a backwards step.
Biding time while waiting for revenge
Calls for a match with Josh Taylor persisted, but Jack Catterall could not just sit around and wait for the Scotsman to answer his calling.
Catterall looked to continue progressing his career, signing a promotional contract with Probellum three months after losing to Taylor, but with no fight under this banner materialising, he joined Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in April 2023.
His first fight came a month later against Darragh Foley, who he beat by unanimous decision, and then faced three-weight world champion Jorge Linares the following October which ended in another unanimous decision win for Catterall.
But while Catterall was keeping active, Taylor, who had lost all but one of his world super lightweight titles, defended his WBO belt against Teofimo Lopez in June 2023.
Taylor lost this bout on the judges’ scorecards and now with no world title, there was only one logical option next for the ‘Tartan Tornado’ and it would be a man who has been chasing a shot at revenge.
Redemption in Leeds and luck begins to turn
There may have been no world titles on the line, but all that Jack Catterall wanted was a chance to face Josh Taylor to right the wrongs from Glasgow, and he finally got his wish.
A rematch with Taylor was scheduled for May 18, 2024 in Leeds and what transpired was a gruelling 12-round affair where both fighters had periods of success.
In the end, Catterall was declared the winner by unanimous decision, and it was a verdict met with very little resistance.
Following the confirmation of the result, it felt like now Catterall was able to push on with his career and world title aspirations after beating a rival who followed his every move inside and outside of the ring like a bad smell.
Catterall’s next fight in October came against a former rival of Taylor’s, two-time world champion Regis Prograis, and while the former was knocked down in the fifth, Catterall got a knockdown of his own in round nine.
It was another unanimous decision win for ‘El Gato’, in what was one of, if not his best performance to date and one which announced himself to the rest of the super lightweight division.
Now it feels like Catterall, after years of chasing and being dealt a bad hand in his boxing career, is finally a name in the consciousness of boxing fans and one which they believe can be a world champion, and possibly dominate the division.
All that remains for Catterall to make this bad luck a distant memory is a win over Arnold Barboza Jr at Manchester’s Co-op Live, but with the American unbeaten in his 31 fights as a professional, Catterall will need be at, or close to his best come the opening bell.
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