Jack Catterall has been a WBO titleholder for over a decade
Jack Catterall has revealed why he needs to win the WBO belt greater than another as he goals to take one other large step in direction of changing into a world champion.
Positioned at quantity two on the sanctioning physique’s newest rankings within the tremendous light-weight division, the 31-year-old from Chorley faces the primary challenger to Teofimo Lopez’s crown – Arnold Barboza Jr – at Manchester’s Co-op Reside area this weekend.
Mandated as an official eliminator for a shot at Lopez’s crown, the winner of Catterall’s conflict towards the undefeated American might but be awarded the title if its present holder decides to vacate.
Having beforehand worn the WBA’s Intercontinental strap, Catterall can also be nicely positioned on the listing of doable suitors to Jose Valenzuela who holds their model of the title.
However, talking solely to SportsBoom.com, he admitted that, given the selection, superseding Lopez could be his most popular path to the highest reasonably than following the WBA, WBC, IBF or IBO paths.
“The WBO is private to me,” Catterall stated. “I defended their worldwide title one thing like 10 instances to be able to get a shot at Josh Taylor a number of years in the past.
“That’s how I acquired that combat so the WBO, from my perspective, is all the time going to be particular. It’s all the time going to imply one thing to me.
“I discover myself at quantity two with them now. Arnold is primary. For me, that is private. This [WBO] is the one I need first, if I’m given the selection. It means one thing private to me.”
Having claimed one of many WBO’s secondary honours by beating Cesar David Inalef a decade in the past, Catterall really made 9 profitable defences earlier than being awarded a shot on the then undisputed champion Taylor in 2022.
Though he was controversially crushed on factors, with many ringside observers insisting he had executed sufficient to get the decision, Catterall coldly avenged the one loss on his 31-bout skilled report when he confronted Taylor once more final Might.
That unanimous choice victory was adopted by one other success, this time over former WBC and WBA holder Regis Prograis, whereas Barboza Jr’s most up-to-date outing was towards Jose Ramirez on a Riyadh Season card three months in the past.
Ramirez beforehand held the WBO title, in addition to the WBC’s, till being dethroned by Taylor.
An ex-British champion, Catterall’s relationship with the WBO, whose headquarters are in Puerto Rico, was initially cemented when he turned their European titleholder earlier than that conquer Inalef.
Given the plethora of honours he has collected throughout his profession, Catterall might be forgiven for feeling aggrieved at being compelled to attend so lengthy for an additional world title tilt.
“I’m not the primary selection for these champions which, to be trustworthy, I in all probability take as a back-handed praise,” he stated.
“The large names are all speaking about preventing one another and hopefully they do.
“I consider I’ve acquired to maintain pushing. I can’t sit and wait round. I have to put myself ready the place they’ve acquired no selection however to combat me which, hopefully, this subsequent one will.
“You’ll be able to by no means take something with no consideration in boxing. However I consider, God keen, I’ll turn into interim champion after which Teofimo has no selection however to combat me or vacate.
“I wish to be concerned in nice fights,” Catterall added.
“I wish to take a look at myself towards the likes of Teofimo, Devin Haney and Josh Taylor.
“I take pleasure in my life boxing and my profession. I don’t take into consideration changing into world champion. I’ve realized to take it in the future at a time, preventing whoever is put in entrance of me and beating them.
“Hopefully everybody can combat and we are able to see who comes out as the very best.”
Catterall vs Barboza combat preview & prediction
