Jack Qatar was at the rough end of boxing politics, enough time to know that you can’t wait and you can’t pass the world.
Following last year’s victory over Josh Taylor and Regis Proglades, Catterall (30-1, 13 KOS) ensured that the junior welterweight title fight would come next… he You’ll get a shot soon.
The 31-year-old took a long time to return to the title photo as he had the iconic victory that was cruelly taken away from his scorecard against Taylor in 2022 for the first time.
Now he is suitable to reach the summit, but he is not in glory.
After winning his best Pro Glades in October, ambition was air. Catterall recovered from a slow start, knocked down in round 5 and returned to drop their opponent twice, winning by unanimous decision. He also got sick with the flu during the week of the fight and was fighting a rib injury.
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His hands were raised and after he held his breath, Catard tried to dream of the guts of the cooperative live arena in Manchester. WBO champion Teofimo Lopez was thrown away as a dream option. “We said we wanted to slap him,” promoter Eddie Hearn told a postwar press conference.
The winners of the IBF title fight between Richardson Hitchens and Liam Paro, which the Hitchens acquired in December, were also silent, but that didn’t come.
When it became clear that he might have to wait a little while for either of them, Catterall asked: What is it now?
Arnold Barboza Jr. is the next man, presenting a tough but ideal challenge. Catterall believes he is on a level beyond the Americans, but Barboza is undefeated and chases his own title shot.
It’s another big win and a chance to get a better quality round under the belt, but it’s going to be a tough night, so there’s a real risk.
Other fighters in Catterall’s position may have chosen to keep the powder dry in the constantly moving department. But for “Elgato”, ranked second by the WBO, Barboza was number one – the gambling paid off.
Saturday’s fight is for essential positions and interim titles. After being haunted by politics and the promises of the sky in the past, his mantra is clear.
“I kept on committing to a world title a few years ago that was essential and that it would happen, I kept on the obstacles, staying on one side and being held on one side,” Catterall told ESPN I did.
“It kept me inert for a while and it happened twice throughout my career.”
He entered his first encounter with Taylor from behind a 15-month break. It was another 15 before he went through the ropes again.
Now he has loaned three huge matches to the bank in space for just over 12 months, with the other coming on Saturday. When he joined managers Sam Jones and Hearn’s matchroom in 2023, his request was to be in the ring as often as possible.
Fighters will often say that’s what they want, but Catterall walks on the walk to suit his story. And his activities and ambitions prove to be fruitful.
“Unfortunately, Jack’s career is plagued by huge inactivity. So when we signed Jack, when we got together, the first thing I wanted to do was box him.” Jones told ESPN. “After Jack fought Jorge (Linares), he put Josh Taylor in the box, and he put Regis Proglaze in the box, and now Barboza.
That run will ideally peak with the belt in 2025, but the risk that everything will fall apart on Saturday is a reality. The defeat to Barboza is devastating for boxers on a run like Catterall. He doesn’t take anything for granted
“He puts the box in the box, he can move his front legs, his hind legs, and I hope he brings everything,” Catterall said. “I told him that, and I’ll say it again, I don’t think he’s great. I think I have his heartbeat.
“But it’s all going well, I have to go out there and prove it on Saturday.
“No doubt. I don’t think it’s going to be a breeze, but I hope we’ve won.”
A victory in front of a crowd of packed Manchester homes can prevent even the cruel politics of boxing from stopping the cattal.
