Jack Catterall has revealed that it was Josh Taylor who insisted on their rematch taking place at 140lbs.
The bitter rivals fight for the second time on April 27 at Leeds’ First Direct Arena, little over two years after Taylor was so controversially awarded victory at the SSE Arena in Glasgow in their fight for the undisputed super lightweight title.
Taylor had previously been vocal about moving to welterweight, and about a potential fight with Terence Crawford.
In the aftermath of his first defeat, by Teofimo Lopez on the evening in June 2023 when he sacrificed his WBO title, he again spoke of moving up in weight.
It had been reported that the sought-after rematch with Catterall would take place at a catchweight somewhere between 140 and 147lbs, but according to Catterall – at 30 three years younger than Taylor – despite his willingness to agree to a catchweight it was Taylor who wanted to remain at 140lbs.
“They’ve called it for 140,” Catterall told ProBox TV. “I fight at 140. To make the fight we said we were open to a catchweight; they’ve said 140, so sweet, let’s get it on. Listen, I was more than fair in being negotiable to doing it at a catchweight – they’ve insisted 140 so that’s the way.
“It’s a different landscape now. I’ve boxed since [the first fight, outpointing Darragh Foley then Jorge Linares]; he’s been beaten since. We’ve shared the ring; we’ve done the 12 rounds together, so you’d say we’re familiar in some aspects. But of course, I expect it to be a different fight and I expect it to be more one-sided this time. I’m gonna finish it this time.
“Josh said after the [first] fight that he had ambitions to go up to 147 and capture titles, and he’s finally come back down to earth and realised that they’re not the options anymore. The option is – and unfortunately for him – his biggest fight is me. I understand that my biggest fight right now is him. I understand that – I don’t think he likes the fact it is – so I think that’s why we’ve got him here.”
When they came face to face at the conclusion of Monday’s press conference in Edinburgh, where Taylor was born, they had to be separated.
“I’m excited we’ve finally got the date and venue,” Catterall continued. “It’s been frustrating, probably not just for me, but for Josh as well. A lot of demand for this fight and we’ve finally got it on, so it feels more real. I’m at the first press conference and I’m excited.
“It was a number of things [that meant the rematch took this long to negotiate], but ultimately I don’t think he fancied it. We’ve finally captured him now – we’ve got him where we want him. I’m gonna put him to bed and finish it.
“I earned the right to say that, ‘You know what, we’re not going back to Glasgow, but pick an arena in the UK’. I’m happy to oblige.
“I won the British title in Leeds in 2017 [against Tyrone Nurse], so I am familiar with the place and venue. It’s only an hour from where I live – it’s more than ideal – so yeah I’m excited for Leeds.”