Taylor defeats Catterall in a close fight

Scotland’s Josh Taylor retained his super lightweight world titles after defeating Jack Catterall by a close split decision at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

Everything was ready for Taylor in his heather purple tartan, to shine in front of his fans and as usually happens in these cases he arrived very confident thinking that it would be plain sailing. It wasn’t.

After a cautious opening study round it was Jack who landing more often with crisper punches and by the third round Josh`s nose was bleeding.

In the fourth Josh was using his extra height and reach effectively. Quite a lot of clinching. But then Jack caught him a sinking right to the midriff and opened up with both hands.

In the fifth, Josh was trying with feints to entice Jack to commit. Jack did so with a big left hook incoming and landing on Josh`s head. Josh who now had a large gash under his right eye, closed down the distance and launched a big attack.

There was a greater sense of urgency and purpose from Josh in the seventh, landing more lefts to the head and combinations to the body.

Just prior to the eighth round, Referee Marcus McDonnell, who`d previously warned them about some rough stuff, gave both a stern talking to. Jack who was noticeably tiring, suddenly landed a right uppercut and bigger left hook, dropping Josh for the first time in his career. Both then went for broke.

Jack was deducted a point in the tenth for holding and was slowing due to weathering an increasing body attack.

Prior to the eleventh, Joshes corner told him to breathe deeply to gather himself. Seconds later, he was led back to the corner for excessive grease to be rubbed off his brows. Josh was concluding the fight stronger. But then, after the bell rang to end the eleventh a bad tempered dig from him to Jack`s tummy, and it instantly brought a point deduction.

A ragged final round. Both opened up. A neat left uppercut from Jack. A crunching left to the body from Josh and then clinching.

Taylor earned the split decision victory with scores of 113-112 for Caterall, 114-111 for Taylor and 113-112 for Taylor. The WBC`s Malte Muller presented Josh with the Green and Gold Belt. He had also retained the others.

Josh, who`s a lofty five feet ten inches tall said this might be his last fight at one hundred and forty pounds. It hadn’t been easy to shed those last several stubborn pounds. This hadn’t been helped by his knee injury, which meant the fight intended for December, had to be re-scheduled for now.

His fierce commitment and physical shape meant Josh finished the fight stronger and more energetic than Jack, but it was a titanic tear up and an even tougher test for Josh than Regis Prograis.

Josh says a re-match isn’t necessary. Jack`s performance merits it! He fought like a Lancashire Fusilier.