The controversy of Jack Catterall’s and Josh Taylor’s first assembly overshadowed the truth that it wasn’t notably watchable. That wasn’t the case this time, as Catterall and Josh Taylor placed on 12 glorious rounds of back-and-forth motion earlier than “El Gato” walked away with the unanimous determination.
Save for a stable third spherical that noticed Taylor (19-2, 13 KO) land some heavy physique pictures, Catterall’s (29-1, 13 KO) jab and motion managed the primary half of the bout, punishing Taylor’s lack of head motion and muzzling his offense. He wasn’t throwing pitter-pat pictures, both; there was real venom there, together with some impressively prolonged combos.
Issues took an abrupt flip within the seventh, nevertheless, when Catterall appeared to expire of steam all of sudden. Taylor took full benefit, persevering with to punish the physique as Catterall started leaning increasingly on the clinch to remain out of bother. “The Tartan Twister” had a full head of steam going into the championship rounds and dominated the primary half of the eleventh, however shortly after the referee broke them as much as chide them for soiled clinch ways, Catterall rocked Taylor to his core with a counter left eerily paying homage to Junto Nakatani’s monster knockout of Andrew Moloney.
Taylor managed to outlive because of a lucky tumble after tying up and had an argument for the next spherical, however the harm was already accomplished. Catterall walked away with two 117-111’s and a 116-113. Unhealthy Left Hook had it 116-112 for Catterall, although I did give him all three swing rounds and battle to see the place the judges discovered a ninth spherical to present him.
Bob Arum took the mic afterwards to name the scorecards “ridiculous.” Matchroom posted them nearly instantly after the decision, so you can also make your personal willpower.
Eddie Hearn eagerly listed off the quite a few matchups, like Subriel Matias, out there for Catterall now that this saga is presumably completed. Taylor, although satisfied that he’d simply edged out the battle, appeared accepting of Catterall transferring on to larger fights.
Clarke overcomes gradual begin to end Zorro
Crew GB’s Cheavon Clarke had what a studying expertise towards the unexpectedly difficult Ellis Zorro, however powered by to attain each the British cruiserweight title and his second knockout of 2024.
Most noticed Zorro (17-2, 7 KO) as cannon fodder after final November’s knockout loss to Jai Opetaia, however he did a remarkably stable job of neutralizing Clarke (9-0, 7 KO) within the early rounds by a mixture of tight punching, good protection, and common clinches. To Clarke’s credit score, he steadily adjusted, dialing in his heavy proper hand and refusing to be manhandled inside.
Late within the eighth, Clarke lastly discovered his chin with a chopping proper that despatched Zorro staggering again to the ropes. Clarke adopted with a vicious barrage and Zorro went down in a heap proper on the bell
It was a painfully unwatchable battle for essentially the most half, however Clarke proved that he can deal with a spoiler. Most likely nonetheless finest to have one or two extra home showdowns earlier than going for the world title; the winner of Jack Massey vs Isaac Chamberlain subsequent month looks as if a superb subsequent step assuming Chamberlain doesn’t bail on the final minute once more.
Donovan places Ritson away with late surge
It took him some time to settle in, however Irish welterweight hopeful Paddy Donovan stored his undefeated document intact with a ninth-round end of fading veteran Lewis Ritson.
Donovan (14-0, 11 KO) leaned on a stick-and-move technique for a lot of the battle as Ritson (23-4, 13 KO) plodded ahead behind a excessive guard, exhibiting off stable footwork and pivots to keep away from getting cornered. When Ritson began discovering the mark with physique pictures and avoiding Donovan’s large counter lefts, Donovan retook management by dialing again the facility, occupying Ritson’s guard with prodding arm punches and staying gentle on his ft to outmaneuver him.
Ritson stored transferring ahead, nevertheless, and stored issues aggressive within the sixth and seventh with heavy physique pictures as Donovan’s combos bounced off. In response, Donovan switched gears and put Ritson on the again foot with nonstop barrages of energy punches, leaving Ritson with little alternative however to shell up and search for the occasional Hail Mary bomb.
With the harm piling up and Ritson’s responses getting fewer and farther between, the ref stepped in to name a halt 32 seconds into the ninth.
Plenty of the substances are there, notably the motion, however Andy Lee nonetheless has some work to do if he desires to show Donovan into a real contender. It shouldn’t have taken that lengthy or that many clear pictures to place down an undersized, past-it veteran like Ritson, who had a worrying quantity of success simply moving into the pocket and ripping full-force physique pictures till Donovan tied up or disengaged.
Nonetheless, even when his ceiling doesn’t look as excessive because the Irish hopeful may like, “The Actual Deal” is barely 25. No must rush issues.
Extra outcomes
- Gary Cully UD-12 Francesco Patera (98-92, 96-94 x2)
- Giorgio Visioli KO-4 Sergio Odabai (1:47)
