It seemed like the talking was almost over.
It is almost two years since Josh Taylor retained his undisputed super lightweight title with a controversial split decision victory over Jack Catterall.
The drama filled fight was worthy of a rematch, the contentious decision seemed to necessitate one and the animosity generated between the pair gave the whole event that much sought after X-Factor. It still hasn’t happened.
Finally, last week it began to look an announcement was imminent but the seemingly never ending saga has taken a further turn and it now sounds like there will need to be yet another round of high level discussions before we get to see the eagerly awaited return.
Ten days ago it was reported that Catterall had withdrawn from the purse bid process for a final eliminator for the IBF super lightweight title against unbeaten American, Richardson Hitchins. In an interview with IFL TV, Catterall revealed that although he was grateful to the IBF for offering him the opportunity, he had accepted a much more lucrative, high profile offer to rematch Taylor.
The following day Taylor gave his view of proceedings and although he denied having received an improved offer from Matchroom, he did admit that his team were in talks and that he was confident that the fight would happen next.
And then Catterall’s promoter Eddie Hearn spoke to Boxing Social.
“I want to give Jack the opportunity to make that fight. Obviously, with the money that those guys want it needs to be, really, a PPV fight in the UK,” he said. “I don’t feel like DAZN feel that it’s a PPV fight in the UK but another broadcaster might so we’re talking to Sam and I just want Jack to get the fight. Whatever way it has to be done, hopefully we can get it made. I don’t think it’ll land on DAZN but who knows. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
There are still options. Taylor is promoted by Top Rank who have a working relationship with Sky Sports who televised the first fight and although this feels like a fight which should take place in Britain, as always these days, there remains the possibility of Saudi Arabia snatching up the fight.
“The fight will happen by any means necessary,” Catterall’s advisor Sam Jones told BoxingScene. “The score needs settling.”
Outside of a monster heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the rematch between Taylor and Catterall is the most talked about fight in British boxing.
Promotional companies spend fortunes developing fighters in the hope of creating moments like this. For some reason, they are stumbling over making it happen. There may no longer be any world title belts on the line but a fight between Taylor and Catterall will never be worth more than it is now and neither fighter is ever likely to develop a rivalry which will create anything like this kind of attention. Returns for Catterall and Taylor versus anybody but each other would pale compared to what they will generate together.
If broadcasters believe they can continue to string along the fans with the promise of jam tomorrow, they may receive an unpleasant surprise. The fight has been talked about for so long that it is coming perilously close to reaching the point of diminishing returns.
The rematch between Taylor and Catterall has to be this fight. It can’t be the next fight.
It is difficult to know what more could be done to build the event. There is something for every single fan to buy into. If the classic rivalry between England and Scotland doesn’t do it for you then how about the tale of the former undisputed champion looking for redemption? No? Well, maybe you would prefer to get behind the underdog looking to right a wrong. Maybe you’re just interested in watching a good fight between world class operators.
The build up would be tense and vitriolic. Both fighters are no-nonsense characters who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and the rivalry has evolved into the biggest grudge since Carl Froch rematched George Groves.
Yes, if it was decided to move ahead with the fight as a pay-per-view headliner, it may well need to be bolstered by a solid undercard but, as things stand, the exodus of events that would have been crown jewels in British boxing’s 2024 schedule to Saudi Arabia means that Taylor v Catterall 2 would be the biggest to take place in Britain this year and the event could – and should – be built as such.
It is extremely rare for two British fighters to reach world class and find a natural rival waiting for them. They run the risk of spending years of their career talking about fighting each other when , by now, we should already be looking back on one of the greatest rivalries in modern British boxing.
