Promoter Eddie Hearn predicts a knockout win over his fighter, Jack Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs), against former undisputed light welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) for their rematch this Saturday night on May 25th.
Hearn says the careers are on the line for the Taylor-Catterall 2 rematch, and he’s right. They’re both forgotten fighters, and the loser of this fight might as well retire becaue they’ll be able to claw their way back to the top.
The Cold Truth: Domestic-Level Fighters with Fading Careers
Even the winner of the Taylor vs. Catterall fight ain’t going anywhere. The cold truth is these two are domestic-level British fighters and not world-class at this point in their careers.
If you throw either of these guys in with Jamaine Ortiz, Subriel Matias, or Gary Antuanne Russell, it would be a feeding frenzy.
Considering what happened last time Catterall, 30, fought Taylor in 2022, it’s understandable why Hearn hopes Jack scores a knockout on Saturday to avoid potentially ending up on the receiving end of a controversial decision.
Taylor vs. Catterall II will be shown live on ESPN+ this Saturday at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. The event begins at 3:15 p.m. ET/12:15 p.m. PT.
The Stakes: A Fight for Survival, Not Glory
“I do think the extra four weeks will help Josh. I won’t say the turnaround was fast, but it’s just going to give him more time,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, talking about Josh Taylor for his fight on Saturday night against Jack Catterall.
“I did fancy Jack Catterall by stoppage when this fight was made. I think Jack looks good,” said Hearn. “He looked fit going into this fight. Obviously, he’s very motivated and he’s a very good fighter. I think it might go the distance, but I really hope it’s the kind of fight where they engage, and I think it will be.”
I don’t know how realistic Hearn’s knockout prediction for Catterall is because his KO percentage is 44, which indicates that he lacks the pop in his punches to knock out a seasoned professional like the 33-year-old Taylor.
Unless Taylor has gotten old in the year that he’s been out of the ring licking his wounds from his humiliating loss to Teofimo Lopez in June 2023, this fight is going the distance.
“You talk about rematches. Sometimes, they change. There isn’t a world championship belt on the line this time, but there’s kind of careers on the line really at the top level,” said Hearn about Taylor and Catterall. “So both guys are going to be desperate to win, and I think nobody wants to leave it to the scorecards again.”
Inactivity and Soft Opposition: A Recipe for Decline
Hearn is right in this case about Taylor and Catterall’s careers being on the line on Saturday night. Neither of them is considered a major player in the 140-lb division anymore, as they’ve been surpassed by younger, faster, and more dynamic fighters in the weight class.
Inactivity and soft opposition haven’t helped Catterall and Taylor. They’re not fighting enough, and the opposition they’ve been facing hasn’t been the type that would keep them on top.
At this point, I don’t see either of these guys’ careers going anywhere but down. The winner of this fight has no chance of beating WBO champion Taylor Lopez or any of the other talented champions at 140. Taylor vs. Catterall = domestic level. They’re not viewed as having the same ability as other talents in the light welterweight division.
“I think Jack Catterall looks really healthy, very healthy, very strong. I don’t think four weeks is a disadvantage to anyone in camp. It’s not the kind of period where you take the foot off the gas. You just carry on training, and I think both guys are going to be razor-sharp going into this fight,” said Hearn about Taylor and Catterall.
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