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Keys to Victory: Where will Jack Catterall vs. Shakhram Giyasov be decided?
Honestly speaking, Jack Catterall should have already been an undisputed world champion at super lightweight.
That crown eluded him, but the Chorley, England man has a chance to capture the vacant WBA ‘regular’ welterweight title tonight when he clashes with undefeated Shakhram Giyasov. The intriguing bout is part of the main card headlined by Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, and live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.
Catterall (32-2, 14 KOs) fell short of becoming the undisputed super lightweight ruler in February 2022 when judges scored a highly controversial split decision in Josh Taylor’s favor. Though Catterall would avenge that loss with a win over Taylor in their rematch, he would suffer a disappointing split-decision defeat to Arnold Barboza Jr. last February, losing out on his chance to claim the then-vacant WBO interim super lightweight title.
He admirably rebounded during the remainder of the year in stopping both Harlem Eubank and Ekow Essuman. Catterall clashes with Giyasov (17-0, 10 knockouts) who produced a fourth-round KO of Franco Ocampo in April 2025.
Will tonight be the occasion Catterall hoists a world title in the air? Or will Giyasov play spoiler and propel his own career forward? With the anticipation turned up, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both men.
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Shakhram Giyasov’s Keys to Victory
Assert hand speed
Shakhram Giyasov has quick hands when alternating between the head and body.
Asserting this early hand speed against Jack Catterall could put the Chorley warrior on the defensive back foot, empowering Giyasov to develop an early lead that he can build on.
Bang the body
Giyasov is a certified body snatcher, pounding opponents’ midsection with incessant dedication. After all, body work is how he stopped Frank Ocampo during his last offering.
Giyasov’s aforementioned hand speed should allow him to pepper upstairs before quickly segueing to the body where he could pound Catterall with crunching hooks or dig to the ribs and liver with slicing uppercuts.
Targeting the body could go long ways in sapping some of Catterall’s punching power.
Crank up the volume
When Arnold Barboza Jr. nipped Catterall via split decision in February 2025, he was credited for his volume punching — something Giyasov is certainly capable of generating.
Sometimes Catterall could be overly patient, so being the aggressor, who is first to the punch, could help Giyasov drown the British fighter with high output.
Jack Catterall’s Keys to Victory
Bait Giyasov in
Jack Catterall can pressure and fight forward, but he is also skilled and comfortable on the back foot.
Perhaps the latter will afford ‘El Gato’ the opportunities to bait Shakhram Giyasov in, wrapping left hooks around the guard or splitting the defense with an uppercut.
Either punch from Catterall would be apt in turning Giyasov’s aggression against him.
Measure Giyasov for a counter
Catterall is a skilled, sharp counterpuncher. His punching patience only aids him in that area of his fight game.
With a fighter who is as active as Giyasov, Catterall can catch him in traffic or load up and unleash a well-timed counterpunch that not only takes exchanges, but can win him the fight as well.
Let hands go
The hard lesson learned against Arnold Barboza Jr. should have been to let his hands go.
Catterall must combat high output with volume punching of his own.
Truly letting his hands go will grant Catterall the impact to impress judges on scorecards in the case this bout goes the distance. It is crucial for the British fighter to drive up his punch count in order to own the WBA strap by night’s end and force a fight with WBA ‘super’ welterweight titleholder Rolando Romero next.
Will this finally be Catterall’s coronation?
DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
With an immense blend of determination and urgency to cash in on his latest world title opportunity, Jack Catterall will not be denied … as long as he punches for volume. He lets his hands go and Catterall should be crowned a world champion, though this has all the makings to being the closest fight of the night.
Watch Usyk vs Verhoeven only on DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk puts his unbeaten record on the line against Rico Verhoeven tonight, May 23, in front of the Egyptian pyramids, live and exclusive on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPV, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
