LEEDS, England — The rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall is a classic case of winner takes all, while the loser could be cut adrift from the top of one of boxing’s most exciting divisions.
The junior welterweight clash, which will be streamed live on ESPN+ (Sat., 3:15 p.m. ET), isn’t for any belts, but a shot at some blockbuster fights and pride.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn summed it up best.
“I think careers are on the line. I always say that because I’m selling the fight but actually if you think about it, the reason I say that is, they could both go on and fight for another five years, but they only want to fight at the top level,” Hearn told ESPN. “They want to fight in world championship fights, they only want to fight in big money fights, and if you get beat, you’re miles away from that.
“So, I actually think the loser could even potentially look at retiring. But I know that both guys are putting the pressure on themselves to do the business.”
Throw the suggestion of retirement at either fighter and you’re not likely to get a friendly response.
Neither Taylor — the first Briton to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era — or Catterall, who felt he was robbed when they first met in February 2022, will take a backwards step on Saturday night. Both believe they can carry on and win a world title.
Catterall was quick out the blocks in the first fight, while Taylor struggled to get going. The Scotish fighter took a knee for a count in the eighth, and had a point taken off for an unnecessary punch after the bell in the 11th round. Catterall also had a point docked for holding. The controversy has been well covered, leading to plenty of ill feeling between the two.
Taylor wants to get back what he feels is rightfully his. His only career loss came to the excellent Teofimo Lopez, who took one of his four belts (WBO). The rest he’s had to relinquish.
He admits the rematch is not only about getting his career back on track but silencing the critics.
“Leading up to that first fight you guys the media and myself, never gave Jack a chance,” Taylor told ESPN on Thursday. “The questions I was constantly getting asked by the media was ‘after this fight are you moving up to [welterweight] and challenging for a title maybe against Terrance Crawford, Errol Spence,’ I was like yes that’s my ambition,” Taylor told ESPN.
“I kept getting it rammed down my throat. I was like yes that’s my ambition, take care of this guy, very blasé about it and move up to [welterweight]. That was the mistake I made. The first rule in the art of warfare is never underestimate your opponent, and that’s exactly what I did and I almost paid the price for it.”
Almost is the key word. His hand was raised on that night in Glasgow two years ago, but questions have followed him ever since. Now, with the rematch finally on, everyone will get the answers.
Catterall sees it as the chance to right the wrongs of the past for good.
“I believe Saturday will be the right time for it to happen. Desperate is the wrong word but I’m excited, I think it will be a sense of relief. Ultimately, we’re here now. All the work is done, all the talking is done,” Catterall told ESPN. “It’s a massive fight you’re fighting the former undisputed champion. A fight that I believe I won the first time around, and a division that is stacked with great talent. A lot of talent and a lot of guys I want to fight. A victory puts me right in the picture for it.”
A calm but tense atmosphere has ruled the final days leading into the fight, and Catterall refutes any suggestions he’s taking too much emotion into the bout.
“Boxing is something I enjoy and something I’m passionate with but come Saturday night you’ve got to take that emotion for the disappointment from the first fight out and you’ve got to fight with intelligence and smarts and that’s what I’ll do.
“It’s win by any means necessary. I believe I can hurt Josh and I believe I’m going to knock him out.”
Similarly, Taylor is blocking out the outside noise.
“I couldn’t give a s— what he thinks or how he feels or how he’s acting or how he is, I’m fully focused on myself,” Taylor said. “I’m enjoying this ride and the process. I heard a footballer say on a podcast a couple of months back, he had retired, and they said is there anything you regret? And he said ‘yeah, enjoying the process more.’
“[He] never enjoyed the ride. So I’ve been trying to enjoy to do that since I became undisputed champion just enjoy the ride a little bit more not take all this what we’re doing here with any seriousness and just enjoying the ride. It’s all a part of the journey.”
So what does Hearn, who has his fair share of 140 pound fighters, think will happen come the opening bell?
“I think we’ll get a really good fight. I thought it was an intriguing fight last time, but it wasn’t a fire fight. I think this time you will get that,” Hearn said. “Jack Catterall says he’s going to stop him. That’s quite unusual for Jack to say that as well. I do feel like Jack expects Taylor to come at him fast as well and Jack’s a fantastic counter puncher as well.
“He’s just got to make sure when he hurts Josh this time he gets on him and gets it done.”
Hearn predicts a world title shot won’t be far away for the winner.
“Jack feels like in that first fight, he should have left as undisputed world champion. Victory will be amazing but he still won’t be world champion so that would be the natural step. Whether that’s Teofimo, [Subriel] Matias, Devin Haney … they’re all fights that are available.”