It is two years since Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall had met when they confronted each other in Edinburgh on Monday – fair to say they made up for lost time.
It was February 2022 when Taylor claimed the most controversial of victories in their first fight, with all of his world super-lightweight titles on the line. Since then the talk of a rematch had been just that, until now.
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April 27 will finally see these two 140lb superstars run it back (live on DAZN), at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Monday in Scotland marked the press conference to kick everything off.
There was acrimony aplenty, with the Scottish public allowed in to provide a hostile backdrop. None of it bothered Catterall though as he grabbed Taylor by the throat during the briefest of staredowns.
Catterall aims early jab at Josh
‘El Gato’ also had something to say about Taylor’s physical appearance, and his willingness to make this rematch, as he spoke to the DAZN cameras.
“I’ve not bumped into him or seen him; he’s been in hiding for two years. He came out today, he didn’t look too clever, but the juices are flowing and I’m excited for this.
“In the immediate aftermath I thought that the rematch wouldn’t happen, but then over the last two years, it was still being talked about and people were constantly asking me ‘when’s the rematch?’ And he would be getting the same, so ultimately, I always felt that it would happen.
“He didn’t want this, he had great plans to go to 147lbs and challenge for world titles up there. He cemented 140 but unfortunately for him, his biggest fight is me. I know that he’s my biggest fight, I can accept that, but for him I think it’s frustrating that he can’t go up and fight Crawford etc, because it stinks still so he’s got to fight me.”
Stepping stone to world titles
Catterall has a virtually spotless 28-1 pro record – the only blot being that night in Glasgow in 2022, when he believes he was done a massive injustice by the final scorecards. Now at last he gets the chance to put that right. It’s not just something he wants to do, it’s something he needs to do.
READ MORE: Taylor vs Catterall 2 and the making of a superfight
“I want to prove myself and fight the best, if this is the fight and victory that I need to put myself one step closer to the world titles, then game on.
“I want to be involved in big fights and this is a big fight. It would have been the cherry on top if we could have got it for a World title, I have ambitions to go on and win a World title, but this fight is worthy of a World title, and it gets me up for it.
“We’re going into round 13, we’ve shared the ring, when you have been in the ring with someone whether it’s sparring or a fight, you get a feel for that person.
“You have to look at the landscape, the fight was two years ago, we’ve both aged two years, I’ve had two wins, he’s had the loss against Lopez, it’s a different fight. I’m going in there feeling that I’m still getting better, I don’t know if we can same the same about him.
“I don’t gamble, but in my head I am the favourite. I’m not as emotionally invested as Josh is, I want to go in there and knock him out, do everything in my power to finish him. If that doesn’t come, I’ll beat him from pillar to post for 12 rounds.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’m excited now, it feels real being here today. I got a warm welcome on the way in, but they’ve obviously changed now, but I am excited, we’ve finally caught him. I don’t believe he wanted to fight me, but he’s here now, he’s showed up and I’m going to smash his head in on April 27.
