2/26 ESPN+: Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall (Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship)

[patscorpio]

Josh Taylor is coming home to defend his undisputed championship.

Taylor and Jack Catterall have agreed to terms for a Dec. 18 fight at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, sources told ESPN, and all four 140-pound belts will be on the line. Exact TV plans haven't been finalized, but the fight will be broadcast by ESPN as well as Sky Sports in the U.K., where Taylor is a budding star.

The 30-year-old Scot unified all four titles when he defeated Jose Ramirez in May. Taylor scored two knockdowns of Ramirez in Las Vegas en route to a unanimous-decision victory.

With the win, Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) cemented himself as not only the best junior welterweight in the world but also one of the sport's pound-for-pound best; he is No. 7 on ESPN's list.

"I've dedicated my whole life for this moment," Taylor said after beating Ramirez. "I've dreamt of it so many times over, man. I'm so, so happy. I'm over the moon. I've trained for this moment all my life."

Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs) has waited a long time for his first title shot. He has been the WBO's mandatory challenger since 2019 and stepped aside to allow Taylor-Ramirez to proceed with the promise he would fight the winner next.

"I have been very patient and it's been a long time coming, but I will be getting my crack," Catterall said in May from Las Vegas, where he was ringside to scout his future foe.

The 28-year-old Englishman is a southpaw, like Taylor, but is largely untested. His best win came in 2018, a decision victory over Ohara Davies.

All but four of Taylor's fights have been in the U.K., but this will be his first bout in Scotland since a May 2019 title-winning effort vs. Ivan Baranchyk in the World Boxing Super Series. Taylor's sterling run at 140 pounds also includes wins over former champions Regis Prograis and Viktor Postol.

 

[patscorpio]

Undercard

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) will cross the pond to battle Irish veteran Eric Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight battle February 26 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Ramirez-Donovan highlights the undercard of the junior welterweight showdown between undisputed world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO #1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall. The entire Taylor-Catterall card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

“Ever since that shocking loss in his professional debut, Robeisy Ramirez has shown why he was one of the top fighters from the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy fought all over the world during his amateur career, and we are thrilled that he will be able to showcase his skills for the Scottish fans.”

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

Nick ‘The Glasgow Warrior’ Campbell (4-0, 4 KO’s) and Jay ‘The Ghost’ McFarlane (12-5, 5 KO’s) will collide for the vacant Scottish heavyweight title.

A pair of Top Rank-signed prospects, fFeatherweight Kurt Walker and junior middleweight Kieran Molloy, will make their respective professional debuts in six-rounders.

Top Rank-signed welterweight Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (7-0, 5 KOs) returns to action in a six-rounder.

BOXXER Series junior welterweight winner Cori Gibbs (16-0, 3 KOs) will begin his new promotional deal in an eight-rounder.

Rising female star Ebonie Jones (1-0) has her second pro fight against Effy Kathopouli over six rounds at junior featherweight.

Cruiserweight Scott Forrest makes his pro debut in a six-round contest.

 

[alpo]

 

[R=G]

Boring. Easy fight

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

Taylor going to smash this fella up.

 

[O³ (O cubed)]

I wonder if this is going to be on Sky or PPV in the UK. Taylor's undisputed was on Fite TV and most people over here were unaware of this fight was happening.

 

[patscorpio]

I wonder if this is going to be on Sky or PPV in the UK. Taylor's undisputed was on Fite TV and most people over here were unaware of this fight was happening.

breh it says sky sports in the article lol

 

[O³ (O cubed)]

breh it says sky sports in the article lol

My bad.

No, no, no.
Still might be PPV. Sky Sports do PPV.


This is The Coli and I'll post til my fingers get arthritis to be right. Even if I didn't read the article

 

[Megadeus]

Taylor at -1350


Think imma just bet on the KO at this point

 

[The Ruler 09]

I wonder if this is going to be on Sky or PPV in the UK. Taylor's undisputed was on Fite TV and most people over here were unaware of this fight was happening.

No way this PPV. Nowhere near a big enough fight, only happening cause Catterall the mandatory. Khan vs Brook is the Sky PPV that month.

 

[O³ (O cubed)]

No way this PPV. Nowhere near a big enough fight, only happening cause Catterall the mandatory. Khan vs Brook is the Sky PPV that month.

Yeah you're right. So is @patscorpio I just didn't read properly.

 

[Ari Gold Bawse]

Its on normal Sky, after Hearn left them they made a deal with Top Rank to show all their fights.

They are using this fight to make Taylor more known in the UK and hope he can become a PPV star

 

[Bigblackted4]

Glad to see the champ heard Catteral is tricky

 

[Derek Lee]

 

[patscorpio]

This is why I put respect on his name...if you're not canelo, usyk, or crawford there are no arguments for any other fighter to be ranked above him