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: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round seven
Jab and lead uppercut by Donovan. Ritson with a stinging cross. Left hook lands for Donovan.
Another strong uppercut by Donovan. It’s still the right hand, but it comes from further away this time, with the Irishman backed against the ropes and squaring his feet.
Grazing right hook by Donovan, who is keeping that lead hand out in front of him to distract Ritson.
Really promising end to the round by Donovan, who lands a couple of flurries.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round six
Oh! Donovan goes down, but it’s ruled a trip – and rightly so. The Irishman stumbled while trying to escape off the ropes, amid this sustained pressure from Ritson.
Donovan is back up and landing hooks with both hands! Now a harsh right hook to the body by Ritson.
Long jab lands for Ritson. The boxers clash heads somewhat in a messy clinch.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round five
Into round five of 10. Donovan with teasing straights and hooks. One uppercut sneaks through now, as Ritson tries to keep a high guard.
Ritson lunges in with a straight right, but there’s not much on it. The welterweights briefly grapple, then both land as they separate.
Donovan targets the body then leans back to narrowly avoid a jab. Good right hook by Donovan.
More grappling, and Ritson stumbles to a knee. He’s back up and pressuring Donovan, but he misses with a left hook.
Decent step-in right by Ritson now. His next effort misses, however, as Donovan rolls under the shot.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round four
More of the same in this round. Donovan with another slick uppercut to end the frame; it’s with the lead hand this time.
The arena is starting to buzz now in anticipation of the main event. You can hear the noise increasing.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round three
The pattern of the fight continues. Ritson is applying near-constant pressure, while Donovan is also staying active, trying to ensure he does not fight too reactively.
Ritson lands a right to the body. Donovan with a southpaw cross to the midriff.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round two
Both men land straight shots simultaneously. Donovan’s seems to do the greater damage.
Still, Ritson marches forward, fighting on the front foot. Donovan with lots of head movement.
And a great rear uppercut by the Irish southpaw just before the bell.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Round one
Here we go. Ritson stands orthodox, Donovan is southpaw. Ritson presses forward early.
Donovan relies on an active jab to deter Ritson, who eventually connects with a short, step-in cross.
Donovan just misses with a quick uppercut attempt, but he lands a decent left hook. Both men overshoot on certain punches.
The rear uppercut lands for Donovan this time, nice work.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
Next up is a welterweight clash between Ireland’s Paddy Donovan and Newcastle’s Lewis Ritson.
Donovan, 25, is 13-0 (10 KOs), while 30-year-old Ritson has a record of 23-3 (13 KOs).
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
Round 10
Final round. Patera comes forward but is punished with a jab. Another jab, this one to the body of Patera.
Patera lands a one-two to the chest of Cully, who is backed up to the ropes, but the Irishman responds in kind. Cully then skips into space.
Patera maintains the pressure and lands a grazing uppercut. Hard right hand to the body now. Cully appears to be bleeding a bit from the nose, like Patera.
Cully is still the more accurate man at the moment.
We’ll go to the scorecards...
Gary Cully def. Francesco Patera via unanimous decision (98-92, 96-94, 96-94)
The right result! Patera started well and had his moments, but Cully was the smoother and more effective operator across 10 rounds.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
Round nine
Penultimate round. The lightweights grapple briefly.
They separate, and Cully does well to land a mix of straights and hooks from range.
Patera is chasing Cully but getting tagged with jabs and teasing crosses.
A left hook seems to land clean for Patera, but Cully takes it well!
Sharp jab by Cully. He’s done well to come forward when Patera has started to get comfortable pressuring; Cully has ensured it’s not just one-way traffic in that realm.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments