24 May

Catterall: «I Like to Reset My Opponents»

British junior welterweight Jack Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) commented on his upcoming bout with former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs), which will take place on May 25 in Leeds, UK.

«You can find yourself in any situation during fight week. When you train for months and weeks to fight someone, and you enter a room with his army, his team, etc., you have to be ready at any moment. I understand we’re fighting on Saturday night, and it’s a gentleman's sport, but we’ve seen how Josh and I interact. When we’re together, we’re not the best of friends, so you have to be prepared for anything.

In my career, this hasn’t happened too many times – there has always been respect. Maybe I didn’t shake hands with my opponent at weigh-ins or press conferences, but after fights, there was always respect.

With Josh, it’s different. We fought once, and now it’s history. There was a lot of time before the first fight, a lot of empty discussions. It’s been two years since the first fight, and a lot has been said.

I like to reset my opponents. I like to keep things simple. I believe in my abilities, timing, reflexes, speed. I believe I have the power to hurt Josh. I think I do everything better than him. Maybe I haven’t had the right opponents or fights to show me at 100 percent.

I box the way I box. Sometimes it’s not the most exciting thing, but if I see my opportunities, I take them. But after fights, I get messages from people I look up to and respect in the sport, and I’ve received nice messages from fighters around the world saying they appreciate and see what I do in the ring, and that’s something I take into account and value.

I would like to fight for a world title and win a world title. I understand it’s a business, and it might be an option. Financially, it might make sense to fight Josh in a trilogy. Again, it’s another big event. We sold out the arena. If it’s a good fight, an exciting fight, and the fans want to see it again, then we’ll consider it. But I’ll be happy to beat Josh, and I won’t have to talk about him again,» said Catterall.

In their first bout, Taylor defeated Catterall by split decision. This was Josh’s first and only defense of his undisputed world champion status – he subsequently lost 3 of the 4 titles, and the last remaining WBO belt he lost to Teofimo Lopez.

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