Jack Catterall wants to be known as more than an uncrowned champion.
The first step towards another crack at the division’s top prize finally comes this weekend, as Catterall ends an unwelcomed 15-month ring hiatus. The former title challenger will face Darragh Foley (22-4-1, 10KOs) in a scheduled ten-round junior welterweight matchup this Saturday on DAZN from AO Arena in Manchester, England.
Many believe that Catterall (26-1, 13KOs) should be entering the ring as the undisputed 140-pound champion after suffering a controversial split decision defeat to Josh Taylor (19-0, 13KOs) last February 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The multiple failed attempts to move forward with a rematch serve as the primary reason why the Englishman hasn’t fought since then. Thus, his only goal this weekend is to remind the world why he belongs at the top level.
“It’s been 15 months since my last fight. I’ve had three training camps for fights that have fallen through,” Catterall noted during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference. “I’m just excited to get in the ring and show there are levels.
“It’s always about getting the win but I put that pressure on myself. I need to perform. I need to put on a statement fight on Saturday.”
The show’s current headliner pits Leigh Wood (26-3, 16KOs) in a rematch versus prior conqueror Mauricio Lara (26-2-1, 19KOs), who was grossly overweight and forced to vacate his WBA featherweight title. The belt is only at stake for Wood assuming the fight still moves forward.
As for the evening’s chief support, a win will keep Catterall in line to enter his second career title fight.
In theory, Matchroom would have him face WBC 140-pound king Regis Prograis (28-1, 24KOs), who attempts the first defense of his second title reign versus Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla on a June 17 DAZN show from his childhood hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. Catterall and Prograis both signed with Matchroom in the past two months, though you’ll have to forgive the Chorley-bred southpaw if he lacks faith in receiving another opportunity without having to kick down the door.
Three separate attempts were made to get a Taylor-Catterall rematch into the ring before the matchup was abandoned altogether. All told, it left Catterall with his second consecutive 15-month ring absence. A similar amount of downtime preceded his title shot versus Taylor, which has him at 30 months since his last victory—a November 2020 ten-round decision over Abderrazak Houya in Westminster, England. Catterall is a healthy -1400 favorite to prevail this weekend.
“I’ve been boxing these domestic guys five or six years ago,” insisted Catterall. “I got other fights to show as well. My last fight, I dipped my toe in the world level. I do believe I am levels above and I will show it on Saturday.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox