Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Fight updates and undercard results as ‘justice’ is served
Re-live one of the most-anticipated rematches in recent memory, as Catterall overcame his rival in Leeds
Jack Catterall banished the shadow of his controversial loss to Josh Taylor by defeating the Scot in a thriller on Saturday.
Over two years after Taylor won a hotly-contested decision against the Englishman in Glasgow, Catterall outboxed a determined Taylor to gain “justice” – as promoter Eddie Hearn described the result.
Catterall avenged the sole loss of his professional career by winning 117-111, 117-111, 116-113 in Leeds. Hearn did suggest that the scorecards were “too wide”, while fellow promoter Bob Arum grabbed a microphone to declare the scores a “disgrace”, but most observers agreed that Catterall was the right winner.
While the rivals’ first clash was a scrappy affair, their rematch produced numerous moments of great quality. Taylor pressed forward throughout, while Catterall fought well behind his jab and put together a number of impressive flurries. Catterall started to pull away as the fight entered its second half, and although a resilient Taylor arrested some momentum, his fellow southpaw produced more crucial moments of quality late on.
Re-live Taylor vs Catterall 2 and see all the fallout, below:
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round seven
Into the second half of this fight. Clarke steps in and lands a right hook, but there’s not a ton of menace on it.
Short jab for Clarke now. Another, this one to the body. Zorro lands two left hooks at close range – to the head then to the body.
Clarke with a short, stiff left hook upstairs.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round six
Teasing jabs by Zorro, but he’s caught out by a clean cross from Clarke, who picked his moment well.
Zorro with a lead left hook and right cross, but neither lands fully.
The round ends with a brief firefight, as both men land straight punches.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round five
Another clinch. After the pair separate, Zorro just about slides a cross past Clarke’s guard.
Same shot from Zorro again, and this time it lands stiff!
Clarke is warned for leading with his head in another clinch. He almost seemed to be grinding it against Zorro’s chin.
Solid jab upstairs from Clarke now. More holding. Zorro digs in a right hand to the head.
Again the fighters separate, and both just miss with their final attacks of the round – a hook by Clarke and an uppercut by Zorro.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round four
More grappling to start this frame. The cruiserweights separate, and Clarke parries a couple of jabs.
Now Clarke lands to the body. Another body attack, as he steps in, before he throws a left hook to the head. Nice idea.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round three
Zorro takes the centre of the ring. He flicks out a pair of jabs, alternating between the head and body.
Zorro tries the step-back uppercut again, but he misses this time.
Another uppercut effort by Zorro, this one wilder and also off-target.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round two
Zorro steps back and walks Clarke onto a rear uppercut. Lovely work.
A bit of grappling ensues, before the cruiserweights separate. A right cross grazes the side of Zorro’s head.
Another right cross just about lands for Clarke. Zorro has to be careful of that shot...
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. The cruiserweights grapple early on, with each boxer unloading body shots.
Clarke sneaks in a hard uppercut to the head. Nice jab now. Zorro comes back with his own jab then a well-timed counter cross.
Clarke rolls under a jab, but Zorro triples the shot and connects with the second and third efforts.
Clarke jabs to the body then misses with a wild overhand right.
Zorro will be happy to have gotten through the round after his early KO loss in December. That said, he wasn’t fighting like a man scared just now.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
Now it’s time for the chief support bout...
Cheavon Clarke faces Ellis Zorro for the vacant British cruiserweight title!
Clarke, 33, is 8-0 (6 KOs), while Zorro, 31, is 17-1 (7 KOs).
Zorro is from Kent but fighting out of London, while Clarke was born in Jamaica but is fighting out of Kent!
Zorro is aiming to bounce back from his first pro loss – a brutal, first-round knockout by Jai Opetaia in December.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round nine
A right hook is on point for Donovan, who covers up as Ritson retaliates.
A short cross gets through for Ritson, but he falls onto the ropes as Donovan ramps up the pressure again!
And the ref, Howard Foster, steps in! Donovan with a stoppage win in the penultimate round!!
Paddy Donovan def. Lewis Ritson via ninth-round TKO (0:32)
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round eight
Right uppercut lands for Ritson, but Donovan seems unfazed. The Irishman is not backing up as much as in previous rounds; he’s holding his ground and firing back each time Ritson lands.
Both boxers are connecting with clean shots, simultaneously at times. Now it’s Ritson who backs up! Donovan is landing spiteful hooks and uppercuts!
Ritson throws back with a left hook, but Donovan is finding his rhythm! He’s landing with both hands, varying his offence, getting through with straights.
Ritson is still landing, and there’s a danger that Donovan gets caught out, but this more aggressive approach is undoubtedly working for the Irishman.
Ritson looks exhausted, breathing heavily. He’s leaning on the ropes then leaning on Donovan.
Donovan will reach the ninth round for the first time in his career.
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