Jack Catterall found a way to win this one.
The threat of losing the fight led to a recent rally as Catterll outpointed Scotland’s Josh Taylor in twelve rounds. There is no controversial ending in the second act. Catterll won by scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 116-113 in their thrilling rematch on Saturday at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
The Ring Championship and the undisputed championship were not at stake this time but Catterll still felt like the king in the end.
“It’s great tonight,” Catterall said after his best win to date. “There are no world titles but I have won the battle and I can close that chapter with Josh Taylor.
“I took more risks this time.”
Redemption was more than two years in the making for Catterall, who many felt deserved the nod in their heroic Feb. 2022. Taylor (19-2, 13 knockouts) survives an eighth-round knockout to earn a unanimous decision victory in Glasgow, Scotland.
Catterll’s setback that night allowed Taylor to return to the fight in the final round.
Taylor was forced to play catch-up that night and fell into the same trap in the race, which came after several delays. It was not due to a lack of effort, as the player who had not cooperated with him committed himself to his attack.
However, the intensity of Catterll’s right jab was the big difference in the opening two rounds. The English southpaw was blocking Taylor and controlling the tempo.
A second timeout was called when both fighters turned their backs after a clash of heads. Referee Kevin Parker took a good look at both players before allowing the restart.
Taylor picked up the pace in the third, his clearest round to that point. Catterll was still there to answer but Taylor was able to cancel the counter with his fists. Another clash of heads caused a brief break in the action. Catterll finished the round with bruises under his left eye.
He started the fourth round with a new purpose.
A major change occurred as Catterll took on his fiery opponent. Taylor appeared to have found his rhythm but was hurt late on as Catteral was called on with his left hand.
Catterl doubled and tripled up on the jab in the fifth round. The combination found its way home as Taylor couldn’t respond. Taylor was in trouble late in the round when Catterll let go of his hands while pinning the Scot against the ropes.
Taylor seemed to be far behind by six but turned things around in the second half. His comeback in the first fight came in the last round, after he was knocked out in the eighth. The rally came early this season, as Catterall was heavily injured and succeeded in the seventh.
That luck carried over into the eighth. Taylor found a home for his left hand to the body. Catterll was clearly affected by the low shot, which Taylor took advantage of before unleashing his attack from the top.
Catteral’s body language suggested a premature blush. He regained momentum briefly at the start of the ninth, but Taylor continued to land more blows.
Taylor continued to attack for the tenth time. Catterll was affected by body shots and severe fatigue. His powers lacked the glimpses he possessed earlier in the battle. At that point, Taylor looked strong as he continued to come forward and start a flurry of exchanges.
Just as the war threatened to go away, Catteral found his groove again. A counter left hand caught Taylor driving on the chin and immediately changed the course of the fight. Catteral followed up but both fighters fell to the canvas after a clinch. Another left hand from Catterall marked a much-needed round in a tight contest.
Catterall refused to leave anything to chance at 12th and the final round. Taylor focused on the body but was unable to repeat the success he found in the middle of the fun story. Catteral was a step ahead during each exchange, as seen on the scorecards unlike the first fight.
Taylor has now lost two in a row. He was due to play Catterall again early last year. A scheduling conflict and an injury to Taylor’s training camp caused several postponements.
The fight was canceled altogether as Taylor – who had already been stripped of the WBC, WBA and IBF belts – fought Teofimo Lopez. It resulted in the first defeat of his career, as Lopez won a decision to claim The Ring and the WBO 140-pound championship.
Catterl (29-1, 13 KOs) went on to win two decisions in 2023 to earn a rematch. He has now won three times in a row and could be aiming for a title in his next match.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
