Jack Catterall’s night has been marred by the ringside judges not once, but twice, although each time in a distinct manner.
In their initial attempt, they managed to portray him as a loser in a fight he undeniably emerged victorious, while last night in Leeds (May 25), they swung to the opposite extreme by having him convincingly win a closely contested fight.
For Jack Catterall, this may initially appear as a form of justice. However, upon realizing that winning a close fight by a significant margin can invite just as much criticism as winning a fight undeservedly, the perspective shifts. If the scorecards had been closer, Bob Arum, Josh Taylor’s promoter, wouldn’t have taken the opportunity to ambush the post-fight interviews, proclaiming the decision as a “disgrace,” and vowing to prevent his fighters from boxing in the UK again. Due to the judges possibly attempting to overcompensate, Catterall, who was previously defeated by Taylor almost two and a half years ago, was left with mixed feelings. He felt as though he had won the fight but also received a favor.
Furthermore, Catterall displayed utmost honesty at the conclusion of the fight. When questioned about his emotions after achieving revenge, he candidly described the decision win over Taylor as “bittersweet,” acknowledging the absence of world titles at stake this time. It’s worth noting that in their previous encounter, there were multiple super-lightweight belts on the line for Catterall to potentially claim. “Nevertheless, I emerged victorious,” he stated last night, “and can now bring closure to the chapter with Josh Taylor. I firmly believe that I won the fight; I took more risks, pushed myself further, and controlled the tempo. My punches landed cleanly. Although it was a tale of two halves, I still believe I was winning rounds in the second half.”
In all honesty, this is likely the most precise interpretation of the fight. It is definitely better than the perspectives of the two judges and Bob Arum. By acknowledging that the fight had two distinct halves, it supports my scorecard of seven rounds to five in favor of Catterall.
Despite the close nature of the fight, Catterall’s victory was well-deserved, and not solely because he was unjustly denied a win in 2022. In the rematch, Catterall showcased more impressive moments, effectively utilized his jab, and ultimately shifted the momentum in his favor by hurting Taylor in the 11th round. This pivotal moment proved to be a turning point in both that round and the entire fight. Until then, the match had been intensely contested, with a valid argument for it being even. However, it was during the 11th round that Catterall unleashed a powerful overhand left, thrown somewhat blindly as he dipped low, which landed squarely on Taylor and shook him to his core. Not only was this a significant breakthrough for Catterall, as it was the first impactful blow of the fight, but it also proved crucial as Taylor had been gaining momentum and appeared on the verge of winning that round. Therefore, Catterall’s ability to hurt Taylor and regain control of the fight was crucial, though unfortunately overshadowed by the judges’ absurd scorecards.
Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing captures Catterall’s successful left punch.
Catterall, with a record of 29-1 (13), didn’t rely on his powerful left hand in the eleventh round as he was already confident of his victory. Although he couldn’t have been certain at that moment, his reaction at the end, where he taunted Taylor for daring to celebrate, spoke volumes about Catterall’s strong belief in his triumph. It also revealed his apprehension about a potential repetition of history.
It was not encouraging that it didn’t happen, but it was still interesting to compare the reactions to the decision this time compared to February 2022. This time, Taylor, who was fortunate in the first fight, shook his head sadly upon learning of his defeat, which was his second in his professional career. It was difficult not to sympathize with him to some extent, considering how unfairly two of the scorecards were. Taylor, with a record of 19-2 (13), has every right to feel as dejected as Catterall did after their first fight. Interestingly, Taylor performed much better in his losing effort in Leeds last night than he did when he “beat” Catterall in Glasgow. This becomes even more interesting when you consider that Catterall was arguably better in the first fight than he was in the second fight.
Catterall executed nearly everything flawlessly in their first fight, except for a slight dip in performance towards the end. He dominated Taylor for 12 rounds, even knocking him down in the eighth round, delivering one of the most impressive displays in British boxing that year. However, in their recent fight, Catterall seemed less relaxed and majestic, possibly due to increased expectations. Despite this, Catterall maintained the same level of control he had in their first encounter. But this time, Taylor had moments of success that were absent in their previous bout in Glasgow. Taylor exhibited more aggression, targeted the body more frequently, and displayed stronger conviction in his punches, although the element of surprise was no longer present. Taylor’s desperation to turn the fight physical led to clashes of heads in rounds two and three. However, Taylor’s relentless pressure didn’t last, and by round five, his punches lacked power. At this point, it was Catterall who dictated the pace, consistently landing jabs and regaining control of the center of the ring. Catterall effectively targeted Taylor’s body, causing him to gasp for air.
Mark Robinson of Matchroom Boxing witnesses Taylor’s successful left landing.
Most of the rounds were closely contested, including the ones that Catterall was winning. Taylor’s victories were also not by a significant margin. For instance, in the seventh round, Taylor finished with a powerful left cross and right hook to the body. In the ninth round, Taylor momentarily dropped his hands, allowing Catterall to land a series of five shots and push Taylor back to the ropes. However, in the 10th round, Taylor took advantage of Catterall’s decreased output and landed some strong body shots, increasing the tempo of the fight.
Catterall’s jab proved to be the crucial factor in the fight. Unlike Taylor’s jab, it not only scored points but also shifted the momentum in Catterall’s favor. Furthermore, it perfectly set up his left cross, which out of all the punches thrown, caused the most damage. This left cross posed a constant threat to Taylor throughout the entire match. In the 11th round, it nearly rendered Taylor unconscious, ensuring that this fight would not repeat the controversy of the past.
Unfortunately, things did not turn out as hoped. Nevertheless, it seems that no matter how often these two engage in conflict, and regardless of the outcome, there will always be a lingering feeling that one of them has been treated unfairly when they leave the arena and return home. I guess that’s just the inherent nature of two formidable rivals.
