Jack Catterall vs Jorge Linares sumary online, round by round, stats and highlights

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Catterall looking forward

"Puts me in good stead."

Catterall's best moment

He nearly took a big scalp right there

JACK CATTERALL WINS BY UD

The judges saw it much as I did. 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 all for Jack Catterall. He is still the WBA Intercontinental Super Lightweight champion.

I scored that fight 116-112 for Jack Catterall, closer perhaps than many, but I liked Linares' workrate early and felt that he did enough to just steal a few of those early rounds. As he slowed, Catterall pulled out to a decisive lead. Let's see what the judges at ringside saw.

The final round, and Linares probably needs a knockout to win here. He has kept the fight close, much closer than my colleagues at DAZN seem to think, but it is still a losing battle.

Linares comes out as cagey as he has been from the outset, perhaps not understanding the situation. He should be letting his hands fly. Nothing short of a knockout will do. Perhaps his age means that he has nothing left to give. Perhaps his experience means that he has no appetite for opening himself up to being knocked out in a counter.

At ten seconds, they paw at each other and the fight ends in nothing.

Linares comes out and lands a great left hand. He comes on for another and is given a right hook to the snout for his trouble.

Catterall looks comfortable in the ring, perhaps too comfortable. Without a knockout, this will go to the judges and some judges like workrate more than others. Catterall is being outworked by Linares, although Catterall is landing the bigger, more hurtful shots.

These later rounds have been showing the age difference between the two fighters. Linares is looking the more fatigued of the two, showing every one of those 38 years. Catterall is still executing his game plan with no trouble.

Linares is catching him with the odd single shot, but Catterall is easily slipping out of range each time. Catterall lands a nice one-two through the middle and Linares backs away.

Catterall lands a great straight left at the bell.

Linares is staying outside a little more, encouraging Catterall to come onto him. Again, both fighters try and push for the final ten seconds, but with little success compared to previous rounds.

Linares is looking more frenetic now, expending a lot of energy here. Catterall is conserving energy, doing only what he needs to do and no more. Linares scores points with the jabs and at the last moment, Catterall comes back with the eye catching shots.

In the final ten seconds, Catterall goes on the attack, landing a flurry of hurtful shots on Linares, doing better work in ten seconds than his opponent did in three minutes.

Linares comes out still determined to turn this into a brawl. He pushes in and lands a lovely combination on Catterall, but El Gato slips out of it and slows the pace yet again. This is starting to look as if Linares is frustrated and that can open up a gap for another big shot from Catterall.

As the round ends Catterall gets some eye catching shots in.

Linares was hurt in the last round, the question is has he recovered from it?

Catterall is not silly enough to go full on for the knock out. Linares, even injured, is a dangerous man.

Linares looks sharp, evading what is coming back at him, trying to do something to get back into this fight. He lands a good right hand onto Catterall's guard. Catterall is on the back foot and Linares is scoring points here.

Catterall opens up with a nice probin combo. He catches Linares as he backs away, but not enough to do damage. Still scored the points though.

Linares is now trying to come in further now and is looking perhaps a little more messy for doing so. Catterall catches him with the counter punches and he lands a huge left hand! Linares stumbles and the ropes hold him up! Catterall jumps on him and there is a brief moment where it looks very bad for Linares!

He recovers his wits just as the bell sounds.

Linares is edgy, perhaps looking like he is beginning to be frustrated with Catterall's lack of attack. Catterall on the other hand is happy to let Linares come to him, he is as quick as his opponent and can stay out of trouble.

Linares is too experienced and wily to get drawn into making a mistake and he is staying at the edge of range, gaining points, staying away from trouble.

In the inter round replays on the big screen, it looks as if the cut came as a result of a clash of heads. Referee Michael Alexander confirms this to the corners.

Catterall is now coming forward a little more and catches Linares with a right hook. Catterall misses with that back hand, Linares' head speed is still phenomenal.

Linares is trying to bring the fight inside, edging closer and closer. He is quick enough to get out of trouble when Catterall throws back.

Linares is looking to land the right hand, moving in a bit closer this round. Catterall is content to stay patient. They get tied up with their feet as both fighters have a wide stance. That was bound to happen.

Catterall comes forward and Linares catches him with a nice counter. He backs Catterall onto the ropes and lands a big overhand right.

Linares has a cut on the bridge of his nose now, not sure how that happened.

The bell sounds and we get underway!

Both men are cagey, wary of their opponent, and with good reason. Linares may be the older man, but he is still fast. His hand speed is as astounding as it has ever been.

Linares lands quick jabs, moving out of range. Both men are pawing around with their feet, trying to gain an advantage if they can, with that southpaw stance of Catterall against the orthodox stance of Linares, the lead foot is always a key element.

Jack Catterall vs. Jorge Linares (WBA Intercontinental Super Lightweight title)

Now it is time for the main event. The legend that is Jorge Linares challenging Jack Catterall for his WBA Intercontinental Super Lightweight title.

Linares started his professional career in Japan 18 years ago, since it was prohibited in Venezuela at the time. In a nod to his origin, he is billed as The Last Samurai, while Jack Catterall is billed as El Gato in reference to his cat-like moves.

McGrail's great defense

set up a quality offense

PETER McGRAIL WINS BY UD

The judges saw it as:

99-91, 99-91, 97-93 all for Peter McGrail.

He is the new WBA Continental Super Bantamweight champion.

You have to feel that McGrail won that fight. I have McGrail winning seven rounds, although several of them were fairly even. You could just as easily have given McGrail eight or nine as much as having given Mendoza five or even six. Let's see what the judges at ringside thought.

Mendoza comes out fast, looking like he needs a knockout. You feel that he might be emptying the tank here.

McGrail takes a huge right to the face and that is good work by Mendoza. After a minute however, the pace of the attack slows and McGrail looks to be still in control. He lands a huge left on Mendoza and rocks him with a follow up right, before Mendoza walks onto another left.

Mendoza comes back wtih a right of his own but it doesn't slow McGrail down.

This is the furthest that Fran Mendoza has ever been in a contest, and McGrail is looking far and away the fresher fighter.

McGrail backs Mendoza onto the ropes and lands a nice comination, ending on a lovely left hand. Mendoza is out into the middle of the ring and still bringing the fight forward to McGrail, but with a look of being more submissive.

Mendoza, perhaps sensing the urgency of the situation, closes the gap and tries to work inside, landing some good shots, but missing the big haymakers that he is banking on.

Mendoza is still a dangerous fighter but he is looking to be the more tired of the two. McGrail is not getting greedy, but there is a feeling that he has a little more in the tank.

Mendoza stays toe to toe with McGrail but is visibly flagging as the round ends.

Mendoza switches back to the orthodox style, clearly feeling that he can set up McGrail for a big shot. McGrail does good work making the Colombian miss when he goes in.

As the round comes to a close, McGrail starts to go through the gears, upping the tempo.

Both men continue to work from where they left off. McGrail is starting to figure out the southpaw style of Mendoza.

The Brit is allowing his hands to fly a little bit more and is perhaps doing the cleaner work.

Mendoza stays in that southpaw stance, but as McGrail gets comfortable with it, you feel that he will have to go back to orthodox, looking for power.

They trade but Mendoza lands a beautiful eye catching combo as the bell sounds.

Mendoza comes out in the southpaw stance, perhaps trying to even the odds. He lands a great left on McGrail but the Brit comes back with his own lovely right hook.

The agnles have changed with the change in stance and shots that were missing are now finding home for Mendoza.

McGrail has outstanding head movement and is staying out of trouble for the most part, but if Mendoza decides to let go with that low right hook, he could catch him out.

McGrail lands a great combination on Mendoza to start the round, that seems to have woken the Colombian up.

A great left hook catches Mendoza clean. Then another. McGrail is now finding his range and timing, getting his shot in.

As Mendoza comes back with his own shot, McGrail is doing a great job of slipping just out of range.

McGrail is using some nice footwork to stay away from Mendoza's attack. Mendoza is still able to come in and attack. The feet get tangled and Mendoza is tripped, not a knockdown.

McGrail a little more happy to let his hands fly a bit more here. Mendoza is coming back with his own but both have the respect of the other.

McGrail comes out in the southpaw stance and pushes forward onto Mendoza, who works orthodox. Mendoza is naturally a aggressive fighter and he comes forward as well, albeit tentatively and wary of the wkwardness of the southpaw.

Mendoza catches McGrail with a hook to the midsection and the Brit stumbles backward. I don't think he was hurt, but maybe a little surprised.

Peter McGrail vs. Fran Mendoza (super bantamweight) 

Now it is time for a contest for the WBA Continental Super Bantamweight Title between local man Peter McGrail and Colombian Fran Mendoza. Both fighters are undefeated.

JACK TURNER WINS BY KO

Jack Turner comes out like a hurricane, looking to get his pro career underway. He was a four time amateur champion and has now won three as a pro.

Turner pushes Yahaya onto the floor twice and Yahaya slips another time. None are ruled knockdowns, but then there is proper knockdown at the 40 second mark. Yahaya cannot beat the count, and looks like he has no desire to.

Jack Turner vs. Adam Yahaya (bantamweight)

Now we have a bantamweight bout between Jack Turner and Adam Yahaya scheduled for four rounds.

Fiaz retired

A warrior has the drive to continue, but this was the right decision

REECE BELLOTTI WINS BY TKO

Fiaz throws a few more shots now, perhaps empowered by the fact that this is the farthest into a fight that he has ever been. The eighth round is perhaps the magic number for him.

Bellotti keeps closing the gap, pushing forward and working inside. Fiaz wants there to be a gap, and Bellotti is not allowing a gap to be there.

Bellotti closes again and lands a huge left hook and Fiaz goes down! He is up and beats the count but looks dazed.

Bellotti is on him quickly and is throwing almost without reply! Finally, the towel is thrown in by Jamie Moore as the bell sounds!

The referee allows the round to end and you can see Fiaz pleading with his trainer Jamie Moore, saying, "Please, Jamie, please!" Jamie Moore is speaking to him and explaining the choice to throw the towel in. The referee comes over and Jamie Moore and confirms that the fight is off. It is!

That is a brutal choce by Fiaz's corner, but it was the right one.

Bellotti has a cut on his right eye caused by a clash of heads in the last round. Bellotti is landing good shots and Fiaz is lowering his head, pushing forward, almost like a bull rush, causing the referee to break them up.

Bellotti is landing good shots, Fiaz is the one holding on this round, not looking to throw anything, but just to survive.

Bellotti moves forward and lands a huge left hand on Fiaz. That cut on Bellotti's eye has opened up quite a bit.

Fiaz is now pushing harder, letting his jabs go a bit more now. When they clench, it is Bellotti who is holding on.

Bellotti comes forward and lands a nice left hook, eating a left at the same time. He is more concerned with what he is doing and as a result is getting hit by what Fiaz is throwing back.

Bellotti goes on the attack and lands a huge right cross as the bell goes.

Bellotti is beginning to come off second best in these exchanges, Fiaz having more and more success with the counter. Fiaz lands a nice left jab on the way out of a clench.

Bellotti is still moving forward but it has less of an air of someone's game plan and is looking less clean than before. Fiaz is finding gaps in his guard and making him pay.

Bellotti is still pushing forward, doing the attacking, while Fiaz is still looking for that counter. The best success that Fiaz has is when he throws that triple jab, he almost can't miss.

Bellotti is puching forward but Fiaz's strategy is starting to have success with those counter punches. Bellotti is not hurt at all, but he is getting hit more and more as he comes forward.

Fiaz tries to push forward and has some success, but as soon as Bellotti turns the tables, Fiaz tries to get out of range, perhaps staying too close as Bellotti lands a few nice left hands.

Bellotti pushes forward and Fiaz catches him with a few light counters, getting perhaps greedy as Bellotti catches him with a heavy right hand in return.

Bellotti comes forward for a big right hand and Fiaz slips it at the bell.

Bellotti comes out on the attack and Fiaz is working on the back foot, looking to catch Bellotti on his way in. Both fighters land punches.

The two men clench as Fiaz tries to switch tactics, and Bellotti tries to push him back.

Fiaz comes out taking the center of the ring and Bellotti circles him, probing with the jab and move technique. Fiaz times his movement and goes forward with three jabs in a row all landing flush.

Bellotti comes forward, landing a good left hand as he pushes Fiaz onto the ropes.

Fiaz is now working on the back foot, and Bellotti is doing good work with the feint, and landing that back hand. Bellotti lands some heavy shots onto Fiaz's guard as the round ends.

Aqib Fiaz vs. Reece Bellotti (super featherweight) 

Now a contest between Aqib Fiaz and Reece Bellotti for the vacant Commonwealth Super Featherweight Title. Bellotti is perhaps the favorite but it is even money in reality.

The stoppage

Tom Farrell can take no more

KHALEEL MAJID WINS BY TKO

Farrrell is now visibly exhausted. He has damage on his left eye, bruised and beginning to swell.

Majid is slower this round than last, but Farrell is trying to get in close and tie things up. Majid backs into the corner and takes a few good shots from Farrell, but it is not enough to do any damage.

Majid lands a body blow and Farrell goes down again. He beats the eight count, just barely, and as the action gets going again, Majid pounds at that midsection again. Farrell goes straight down, clearly unable to take any more punishment.

Referee Steve Gray has no choice but to step in and wave it off.

They come back out in the fifth trading, working close. Majid is working the body and Farrell is looking like he is not quite there. Majid keeps pounding away and at the halfway mark, Farrell goes down!

He gets the eight count and goes straight back into the fray. Majid is staying on the body, thudding away. Farrell is in the fight now, perhaps woken by the knockdown. He is winded though and can't keep pace with Majid.

Farrell comes out well and then inexplicably puts his hands down for Majid to punch him. Majid obliges, but Farrell comes back strong, as if to say that he is not being hurt by his opponent. They begin to pound away on each other and Farrell perhaps gets the best of Majid in the exchange.

The heavy work sees Majid looking tired and Farrell with blood pouring from his nose. It is strange that several times, Farrell looks as if he kind of switches off. In the attack, he backs out and drops his hands.

Farrell comes out and puts pressure on Majid right away, catching him with a great right uppercut. Majid comes back on the attack and Farrell makes him pay with an eye catching left this time.

Majid comes in close and holds on doing good work on the inside.

At the 25 second mark, Majid catches Farrell with a low blow. Referee Steve Gray gives Farrell time to recover and speaks to Majid about it.

When the fight resumes, they go back to trading so no lasting damage done.

They come out and Majid again takes the center of the ring, doing nice work probing with that jab. But every time he comes in close, Farrell comes back with a good left hand.

Farrell now switches to orthodox, slowing Majid, perhaps even confusing him slightly, before going back to his natural southpaw stance.

Majid is setting the pace and it is perhaps faster than Farrell would like to work. Farrell takes a huge right hand as he switches to orthodox again just at the bell.

Farrell comes out and tries to establish his jab. Generally regarded as a step up in class for Majid, he will want to take the front foot quickly in the opening round.

Majid won't be cowed, however, and he is trying to take the center of the ring away. Farrell is slippery and although he is showing respect for his opponent, he is doing good work with that left hand.

Both fighters go to work on the inside when in the clench, somethign that referee Steve Gray is allowing to happen, although he does have a word with Farrell about holding and hitting.

Khaleel Majid vs. Tom Farrell (super lightweight)

Now we join the live action as the main undercard gets underway. The first bout is a Super Lightweight contest between two local fighters in Tom Farrell and Khaleel Majid. Scheduled for eight rounds.

Campbell Hatton vs. Jamie Sampson

Jamie Sampson disqualified in the final round for holding Campbell Hatton.

Paddy Lacey's shot

A brutal KO shot

Ali's decision

Muhammad Ali gets the decision

Crolla's stoppage

William Crolla gets the stoppage

Preliminary match results

William Crolla vs. Martin Shaw
William Crolla picks up his second professional win with a first round stoppage of Martin Shaw.

Muhammad Mustafa Ali vs. Giulio Commerso
Going all six rounds for the first time in his young career, Muhammad Ali gets the decision 60-54, winning every round.

Paddy Lacey vs. Owen Kirk
Local boxer Paddy Lacey unceremoniously knocks out Owen Kirk with a brutal liver punch in the first round.

The Full Card

Jack Catterall vs. Jorge Linares(WBA Intercontinental Super Lightweight title)
Peter McGrail vs. Fran Mendoza (super bantamweight)
Aqib Fiaz vs. Reece Bellotti (super featherweight)
Shabaz Masoud vs. Jose Sanmartin (super bantamweight)
Khaleel Majid vs. Tom Farrell (super lightweight)
Campbell Hatton vs. Jamie Sampson (super lightweight)
Muhammad Mustafa Ali vs. Giulio Commerso (super bantamweight)
Paddy Lacey vs. Owen Kirk (middleweight)
William Crolla vs. Martin Shaw (super welterweight)
Jack Turner vs. Adam Yahaya (bantamweight)

The main card is set to get underway at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT.

Tale of the tape

Jack Catterall

Age: 30

Stance: Southpaw

Height: 5ft 7in

Reach: 69”

Record: 27-1-0

Jorge Linares

Age: 38

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 5ft 8in

Reach: 69”

Record: 47-8-0

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of the WBA Intercontinental Super Lightweight championship bout as Jack Catterall defends his title against former three-division champion Jorge Linares in Liverpool, England.

Jack Catterall was meant to be the first undisputed world champion from England, taking possession of all four recognized titles. He travelled up to Scotland and ripped them out of Josh Taylor’s hands, doing everything short of knocking him out. He dropped the Scot and outclassed him from soup to nuts.

It is difficult to put into words the scale of the effect that Jack Catterall’s loss to Josh Taylor 18 months ago was. A member of British Parliament called for a police investigation to be launched into what was widely perceived as a robbery.

Catterall himself has been vocal in insisting that a rematch must take place. But with negotiations for that stalled and perhaps even dashed completely, Taylor took a fight with Teofimo Lopez, a fight which revealed a gaping chasm in abilities, and one in which Taylor could not rely on a home town decision. Lopez easily took Taylor apart.

With his chance at the titles now evaporated, Catterall went out and started again, defeating Darragh Foley for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Light Welterweight title.

Now signed with Matchroom Boxing, Catterall is making a concerted push to regain what he sees as rightfully his. The Light Welterweight world titles have been parcelled out to Rolando Romero, Regis Prograis, Subriel Matías, and Teofimo Lopez. In Catterall’s eyes, his march toward getting them back into his hands begins tonight.

In order to get to that, however, Catterall will have to get through a man who is a modern legend in the game: Venezuela’s former three-division champion Jorge Linares.

Linares has a very long and respectable resumé, and while his latest bouts have ended in defeat, they have been to fighters like Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko. No great shame there. Along the way, he has been the rock against which many British contenders have seen their hopes dashed.

Remember Luke Campbell, Anthony Crolla, or Kevin Mitchell? All have seen their dreams of stepping up big on the world stage upended by Linares. Even at the ripe old age of 38, he will most certainly be a difficult nut for Catterall to crack.