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Shakhram Giyasov vs. Jack Catterall: Who has the edge heading into their fight?
The way Eddie Hearn explained it during the press conference Thursday, Shakhram Giyasov and Jack Catterall were each avoided by Devin Haney, so they found each other.
Giyasov and Catterall will clash Saturday night at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, and live and exclusive on DAZN, for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ welterweight world title. The fight will be part of the main card headlined by unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk taking on kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.
The undefeated Giyasov (17-0, 10 knockouts) is coming off a fourth-round KO of Franco Ocampo in April 2025 via his lone action of the year. Meanwhile, Catterall (32-2, 14 KOs) rebounded from a February 2025 split-decision loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. by stopping Harlem Eubank and Ekow Essuman four months apart in July and November, respectively.
Will Giyasov record his most meaningful victory yet in lining up a showdown with WBA ‘super’ welterweight ruler Rolando Romero? Or will Catterall force the fight with Romero himself, making his third attempt at becoming the world champion a charm? With the anticipation building up, DAZN News probes into who has the edge in this bout.
Inside Usyk and Rico training camps
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Boxing Styles
Shakhram Giyasov alternates from the head to body with quick hand speed, particularly battering opponents’ midsections with pounding hooks and digging uppercuts.
This incessant, pressuring flow of crunching body work eventually made his last opponent, Franco Ocampo, succumb, and Giyasov will certainly look to serve Jack Catterall to the same buffet.
Catterall, a southpaw, is more of a patient fighter who times his punches and effectively loads up on the left hand. The British fighter is also a shrewd counterpuncher, whether pressuring forward or on the back foot.
The clashing of styles is intriguing in this bout, though Catterall gets the nod here as he could foreseeably turn Giyasov’s pressure against him via sharp counters.
Edge: Catterall
Power
Both Giyasov and Catterall are coming off knockout victories. However, Catterall’s ability to really sit on his blows and leverage their maximum impact — especially with the left hook — makes him a bit more potent as a power puncher.
Edge: Catterall
Mental Warfare
Giyasov has never tasted defeat. Catterall has experienced losing twice in his career — by split-decision each time — in world title shots.
While Catterall losing to a more active Barboza in an interim title shot was stinging, the Chorley man dropping the split decision to Josh Taylor back in February 2022 was much harder to digest. Many critics and fans believe Catterall did more than enough to win that fight, which would have made him undisputed super lightweight world champion.
All being said, the urgency is high for Catterall who cannot afford to go 0-for-3 in these situations.
He does have a vast ring experience advantage, having fought the likes of Taylor, Barboza, Jorge Linares and Regis Prograis to name a few.
Between the urgency and experience, the mental edge resides with ‘El Gato’ too.
Edge: Catterall
DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla on who has the edge between Giyasov and Catterall
While I expect Giyasov’s hand speed and sheer punching volume to give Catterall some fits in this matchup, I’m banking on the Chorley man’s urgency and mettle to show up big in this fight.
Let’s face it: Catterall should have been an undisputed welterweight crown holder once over already. He had that bitter pill to swallow, followed by a letdown of a performance against Barboza.
This time around, Catterall must be at his very best to wrap a title around his waist with the Pyramids as the backdrop by the night’s end. I’m giving him the 3-0 edge across these categories to do just that.
Watch Usyk vs Verhoeven only on DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk puts his unbeaten record on the line against Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, 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.
