Home Boxing News Jack Catterall dominates Jorge Linares, says he still has unfinished business with...

Jack Catterall dominates Jorge Linares, says he still has unfinished business with Josh Taylor

Jack Catterall and Jorge Linares. Photo credit: BBC

Junior welterweight contender Jack ‘El Gato’ Catterall 28-1 (13) has again demanded a rematch with former undisputed 140-pound champion Josh ‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor 19-1 (13) following his comfortable points decision win over Jorge ‘The Last Samurai’ Linares 47-9 (29) at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old Lancashire southpaw has now won two on the trot following his hotly disputed split decision loss to fellow lefty Taylor, 32, in Glasgow in February last year.

In that fight Taylor was cut over the right eye, knocked down in the eighth and deducted one point in the 11th for punching after the bell, while Catterall was docked one point for excessive holding in the 10th.

When the final bell rang Taylor retained his WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF world titles by scores of 113-112, 114-111 and 112-113.

The fight was set for a rematch in March before a foot injury forced Taylor to withdraw from the bout. He would go on to face former WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion Teofimo ‘The Takeover’ Lopez 19-1 (13) in a mandatory defence of his WBO belt instead, losing a unanimous decision by scores of 111-117 and 113-115 twice at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in June.

Catterall returned to action in May after 15 months on the sidelines to defeat Irish southpaw Darragh Foley 22-5-1 (10) by virtual shutout over 10 frames in Manchester.

His 12-round hit-out against Venezuelan veteran and former three-division world champion Linares, 38, gave him some much needed rounds as he continues to chase revenge against Taylor.

“Taylor, where are ya?” Catterall said after his 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 victory over Linares. “Let’s ‘ave it, you shithouse.”

Catterall controlled the pace and distance against Linares with his well-timed jab. In the back half of the fight he appeared to stun Linares on a number of occasions, but never pressed for the stoppage.

“Listen, he went to Vegas, came over here, the full team. We knew he was going to bring it tonight,” Catterall said.

“I’m my biggest critic, I probably could have done more tonight but the respect was there and it was valuable to get 12 rounds with a legend.

“He got into his rhythm, I hurt him in the middle rounds but he came back. He’s been in the sport for 30 years. He’s been the 12-round distance more than I’ve had fights so he knows how to get through a fight.

“I felt my timing was good tonight and he fell short a lot on his punches. I probably put too much pressure on myself. I was headlining tonight in Liverpool. I probably gave him too much respect but listen, lesson learned.

“Of course I would like that fight [with Josh Taylor]. We need it to happen. All this week people are still talking about it like it was my last fight, and I’ve fought since then. It’s a fight we need to settle.”