Pick It: TBRB #4 Jack Catterall vs. Jorge Linares (Saturday, DAZN, 2:00 PM EST)
Luck is a funny thing. A little more of it with the judges and 30-year old Jack Catterall (27-1, 13 KO) would be able to say he won the undisputed junior welterweight crown in February 2022. Instead, Catterall caught the rough end of a split decision versus Josh Taylor and then rode a roller coaster of a rematch imploding along the way.
With only one fight since the Taylor scrap, all Catterall can do is work for position to challenge one of the titlists in the class now that the four belts have splintered again. Saturday, he can do that while possibly ending a notable career. 38-year old Jorge Linares (47-8, 29 KO), a three-division former titlist, has had a fun career full of some notable highs and shocking lows. Riding a three-fight losing streak, is this the veteran’s last hurrah?
Additional Shows to Watch For
Saturday – #5 Rocha vs. Santillan (DAZN, 8:00 PM EST)
Catterall vs. Linares might be a little more notable (and it’s debatable how notable anything is this weekend). This welterweight scrap might end up being the fight of the week though. 26-year old Alexis Rocha (23-1, 15 KO) looks like a potential player in the always loaded welterweight field. 31-year old Giovani Santillan (31-0, 16 KO) has a chance to prove he’s a bigger player. It’s a step up for both in an excellent match of welterweight hopefuls waiting for their big break. The undercard IBF flyweight title scrap between Gabriela Fundora and Arely Mucino will be value added to this card from Inglewood.
Saturday – Lawal vs. Chamberlain (Peacock, 2:30 PM EST)
The first card for the new BOXXER series on Peacock will mean cruiserweight action up against the bruisers of the college gridiron. 28-year old Mikael Lawal (17-0, 11 KO) has good size and is hitting at a moment where the UK has some good options in the 200 lb. class. 29-year old Isaac Chamberlain (15-2, 8 KO) has never been stopped and a loss to future titlist Chris Billam-Smith two fights ago has proven to be no shame at all.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com