Jack Catterall was on the wrong end of the decision in his first fight with Josh Taylor.
This time was different.
Catterall defeated Taylor by unanimous decision.
The official scorecards were 117-111, 117-111, and 115-113, all favoring Catterall, leaving no room for doubt about the outcome.
MTC Media scored the fight 115-113 Catterall.
“It’s bittersweet tonight. No world titles. I won the fight. We can close that chapter with Josh Taylor,” Catterall said. “Listen, I believe I won the fight. I took more risks this time. Josh is an elite operator, {former} undisputed world champion. We knew we were up against it, but I went through the gears, boxed with my smarts, and even in the second half of the fight, the rounds that I was more reserved, I was controlling the pace and wasn’t getting hit with big punches. And I was landing clean.”
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) got off to a fast start behind his jab. He controlled the distance while muting Taylor’s ability to make a change.
Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) mounted a charge in the 7th round as Catterall quit jabbing. That allowed Taylor to work the body and take over the fight until the 11th round.
In the 11th, the referee warned both fighters, giving them an unintended rest.
When the fight resumed, Catterall landed a big left, staggering Taylor.
Taylor wasn’t the same after that.
Catterall kept throwing the left as Taylor’s right eye closed up.
“I thought it was a great fight. Fair play to Jack. He was a better fighter than the first fight,” Taylor said. “But, listen, I thought I just nicked the fight, to be fair.”
