Josh Taylor wants to make a statement in rematch with Jack Catterall

A year ago, Josh Taylor was roundly criticised by boxing fans for choosing to face Teofimo Lopez instead of giving Jack Catterall his well-deserved rematch. At the time, Taylor was the undefeated, undisputed super-lightweight world champion and Catterall had taken him to a contentious split decision. Around the fight world, the consensus was that a rematch was the only way to settle it.

Instead, Taylor decided to accept a fight with Lopez in New York, presumably for a much bigger payday than Catterall would have offered. Lopez went on to hand Taylor a resounding unanimous decision loss, the only one of Taylor’s career, taking the WBO belt to New York and a long way from Catterall’s hands.

Now, a year later, the Josh Taylor - Jack Catterall rematch is taking place, and while it is bittersweet for Catterall’s camp, they are eager to show that the split decision loss was a mistake and that the 28-1 fighter deserves a shot at the title from Lopez.

The trouble is, that is precisely what Taylor wants to show as well.

Taylor was given the toughest fight of his life against Catterall the first time around. So much so, that he looked burned out when it came time to fight Lopez. There was no creative spark, no changing angles, no clever boxing that Taylor is known for. Lopez made light work of a listless Taylor on the night, something that Taylor himself admits.

“The first three rounds were going my way and then the old legs went and I was tired. I didn’t get a second wind. He was better than me on the night. The better man won.”

So many fans were shocked and outraged when Catterall was sidestepped for Lopez, but Taylor explains, “I always fancied fighting Teofimo Lopez, and at the Madison Square Garden against another top fighter for a world title. So it was a dream ticked off in the bucket list. It didn’t go my way, but it was still a good experience in my life and career.”

Now Taylor would like to put any doubts to bed over that split decision win against Catterall, with a view to a rematch with Lopez to reclaim what he sees as his title. “That’s a fight I would like to do again in the future because I believe that the best of me is beating Teofimo Lopez. I’ve been in there with better fighters. I’ve been in there with guys that are more clever than him and whack harder than him as well. Me fighting on all cylinders, I beat the guy.”

Catterall wants the same thing and something has to give. We will find out whose night it is on Saturday.