He released Jack Catterall in his pursuit of the world title after getting revenge on Josh Taylor

JACK CATTERALL has admitted he feels relieved after last night’s victory over Josh Taylor as he now looks to challenge for a world title in the future.

The 30-year-old defeated the former super-lightweight champion by unanimous decision in Leeds, 27 months after losing a controversial split decision to Taylor in Scotland.

Although there were no titles on the line in the rematch, the strike was a defining moment in Catterer’s career.

“It’s a great feeling of relief for me tonight,” he said Debate News.

“We have been coming for a long time, going back and forth. A lot of talk about Josh Taylor over the past few years. In the end, it’s fun to beat him and answer all these questions.”

Judges Mark Bates, Lee Every and Kieran McCann returned the scorecards 117-111, 116-113 and 117-111 overall for Catterll, 29-1 (13 KOs), after a hard fought round of 12. Catteral was the rightful winner in many people’s eyes, but in the second half of the fight, Taylor fought admirably. However, it was too little, too late for the 33-year-old.

“I felt like I was in control for a lot of laps,” Catterall said.

“I felt like I won the fight obviously, I think there were a few rounds where I could have let off the gas and given him a chance, but I also won comfortably tonight.

“There’s always that weird feeling after the first fight we had where I felt like I won clearly, I didn’t get the decision, but I got the right decision tonight.

“I hit him. A lot has been said about these score cards. Obviously I will watch the fight and I will judge myself, but I believe that I won.”

Catterll’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, now wants to push his star for a second world title shot. As things stand ‘El Gato’ is ranked sixth in the WBO, third in the IBF, fifth in the WBC and fourth in the WBA. Champions Teofimo Lopez, Subriel Matias, Devin Haney and Isaac Cruz all have title defenses in the coming weeks and months. Hearn’s Matchroom stable is full of world-class talent at 140lbs, which ensures that another big fight for Catterall won’t be too far away.

“I want one of the world titles, I want to win the world title, I believe I can do that,” said Catterll.

“Lopez, Haney, Matias, so many great fights yet to be made.”