A world title shot may be out of reach for Jack Catterall in the short term, but a chance to rectify a past injustice remains a compelling alternative.
Sam Jones, the advisor of the British 140-pound contender, made it clear in a recent interview that his charge would be more than willing to trade punches again with Josh Taylor, the former undisputed champion of the division, in the near future. Taylor won a highly disputed decision in their undisputed title fight one year ago, in January. A rematch was scheduled but it was derailed by multiple postponements, with Taylor eventually pivoting to a fight with Teofimo Lopez. The latter defeated Taylor last month to become the new WBO 140-pound titlist.
Catterall, who recently inked a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, was hoping to become next in line to face Regis Prograis, the WBC titlist from New Orleans, but those plans seem unlikely after the WBC announced Spain’s Sandor Martin as Prograis’ mandatory. Prograis, who is also backed by Hearn, is reportedly in talks to potentially defend his title against undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney, who has hinted at moving up to 140 in his next bout.
With Prograis preoccupied, Catterall (27-1, 13 KOs) has floated the possibility of re-engaging Taylor in a rematch. The two have been going back and forth on social media lately.
“To be honest with you, we were so focused on pursuing this world title fight for Jack, because it was touch and go at one point,” Jones told iFL TV. “Now the WBC has called Sandor Martin as a mandatory challenger for Prograis—that kind of put a spanner in the works there. The one key thing for Jack is he needs momentum. He needs activity. His career, if there’s a criticism of Jack’s career, it’s that he’s never really had momentum. Now is the chance for that. He’s gotta have three fights between now and February. He boxed Darragh Foley in May, we’re going to fight in October, and then another fight in February.
“I’m just saying from a boxing fan’s perspective everybody wants to see Josh Taylor against Jack Catterall. If he doesn’t want to box, no problem, good luck with the rest of your career. Get on with it. But if you want to make the fight, let’s do it right now.”
Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) suggested in the aftermath of the loss to Lopez that he would look to move up to the welterweight ranks in his next fight. Weight class aside, Taylor is also backed by Las Vegas-based Top Rank, which rarely does business with Catterall’s Matchroom.
Josh vacated all his belts. Jack had a situation he had to sort out to make the fight. They both played their parts to make the fight happen, then he (Taylor) pulled out and did something else. Listen, I really respect Josh Taylor the fighter, I really do, I say it with a very straight face. I respect him lots, but if he wants to make the fight, there is nothing stopping the fight from happening. Jack wanted a world title fight and that he prioritized over any fight because he wants to become world champion. Everybody is tied at the moment, let’s make the f—ing fight.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.