🎤 Jack Catterall Interview with OLBG

We spoke exclusively to boxer Jack Catterall about his recent fight, the possibilities in the future, and Anthony Joshua among other boxing questions.

• ‘Delusional’ Josh Taylor is unlikely to get a third fight with him.

• Expecting to fight the best version of Regis Prograis.

• Teofimo Lopez is the world title fight to make.

• Artur Beterbiev’s win over Dmitry Bivol.

• Anthony Joshua will taste defeat to Daniel Dubois again based on the first fight.

Q: Josh Taylor has claimed he knocks you out if you meet in a third fight, what do you make of that, and could a trilogy bout happen before your career ends?

“We’ve boxed twice now and I know for what Josh is, and he’s not somebody I would necessarily get on with and we are two different types of characters.”

JC: Right now, it’s not a focus. I have a big fight coming up in less than two weeks so that’s where my energy is going. Josh is deluded though to think he can knock me out in a third fight.

The feeling is mutual between myself and Josh Taylor. We’ve boxed twice now, and I know for what Josh is, and he’s not somebody I would necessarily get on with and we are two different types of characters. That being said, I don’t wish him any ill, I’m not interested in any of that. But that said, I couldn’t care less about anything that Josh is up to.

Q: How are you feeling ahead of your fight against Regis Prograis?

“I expect a tough fight, he’s a two-time world champion and aside from the world champions (of present), he’s the best fighter we could’ve picked.”

JC: Training has been good. It’s my last week and then we are into fight week. I expect a tough fight, he’s a two-time world champion and aside from the world champions (of present), he’s the best fighter we could’ve picked. We could have gone down an easier route, but I didn’t want that, I wanted to test myself. Regis finds himself in a position where he’s lost his world title and wants to get himself back into contention, so it makes for a great fight. 

Q: How excited are you to fight at the new Co-op Arena in Manchester, and what do you make of Regis Prograis at 35 years old?

“His back is against the wall in this fight with me because if Regis Prograis loses then he is out of options.”

JC: I’m buzzing. I live just outside of the city and there’s no venues so to be back in Manchester at a new venue, it looks phenomenal, we’ve been there and had a tour around it so it’s going to be a good feeling. 

You only have to look at his last two performances against Danielito Zorrilla and Devin Haney. He’s looked a little bit past his best but nonetheless you prepare to fight against someone at their best. His back is against the wall in this fight with me because if Regis Prograis loses then he is out of options. He has had his time in the sun. Regis’ been a two-time world champion; he’s had some brilliant fights, but I expect to go in there and beat him. 

Regis’ knockout ratio shows he is a big puncher and that’s probably one of the last attributes he won’t lose is his power but I’m confident in my ability, my defence and ring craft to get me through that. Each fight proposes a different threat, and we’ve studied him long enough to know what we are up against.

Q: Should you beat Regis Prograis, who do you want next?

“There’s a lot of good names in my division and big-time fights to be made so I expect there to be movement with belts in the coming weeks but Teofimo Lopez and Liam Paro are on the top of my list.”

JC: I want a world title fight next. You have to look at all four of the belts, but I want to fight Teofimo Lopez or Liam Poro. There’s a lot of good names in my division and big-time fights to be made so I expect there to be movement with belts in the coming weeks but Teofimo Lopez and Liam Paro are on the top of my list.

Q: What do you make of Teofimo Lopez after some inconsistent performances?

“Like a lot of fighters, you have a night where you don’t perform at your best but for me, I would say he is the name in the division.”

JC: He is up there obviously and beat some great names. Like a lot of fighters, you have a night where you don’t perform at your best but for me, I would say he is the name in the division. A great fighter who has achieved a lot in the sport and he is definitely someone I want to fight.

Q: What did you make of Beterbiev vs Bivol, and how desperate will Bivol be to get back in and have the rematch?

“Dmitry Bivol has worked all of his life to get into this position to become undisputed and it was a very close fight, both showed a lot of good stuff in the ring and I’m sure after a little rest he will be hungry to have the rematch.”

JC: I watched the fight and thought it was a terrific fight. Before the fight, I was slightly leaning towards Dmitry Bivol. 

They both had some amazing rounds but as we were going into the last round, I had it very close, but Artur Beterbiev did it for me probably by one round. There’s been a lot of stuff online since the fight about the scorecards and one of them was definitely ridiculous. I’ve been on the receiving end of it, and it is frustrating but again close fight. 

Dmitry Bivol has worked all of his life to get into this position to become undisputed and it was a very close fight, both showed a lot of good stuff in the ring and I’m sure after a little rest he will be hungry to have the rematch. Hopefully in the meantime hopefully Artur Beterbiev can keep all four titles, and the rematch can be for the undisputed title again.

Q: What did you make of Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Daniel Dubois and how do you see the rematch going if it gets made?

“From what I have seen, Anthony Joshua will take the rematch but there are different fights out there for AJ but he has that champion mindset and wants to come back and win his world title back but the fight goes down the same way the second time round.”

JC: If you base it off the first fight, you would have to say it will be the same scenario. Daniel Dubois is coming of age and is looking better and better after each performance and is growing in confidence inside and outside the ring. 

From what I have seen, Anthony Joshua will take the rematch but there are different fights out there for AJ, but he has that champion mindset and wants to come back and win his world title back, but the fight goes down the same way the second time round. 

Q: If AJ loses again, does that kill any chance of a fight against Tyson Fury?

“I’m looking forward to Tyson Fury fighting Oleksandr Usyk again and I don’t think Anthony Joshua should rush and take that fight again with Daniel Dubois.”

JC: You would say so, potentially. Tyson Fury has his hands full with Oleksandr Usyk in the rematch which I am looking forward to watching in December. You just don’t know what is going to unfold because anything can happen in heavyweight boxing. I’m looking forward to Tyson Fury fighting Oleksandr Usyk again and I don’t think Anthony Joshua should rush and take that fight again with Daniel Dubois. 

Q: How do you see Tyson Fury getting on in the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk – do you think Fury is on his way down?

“Maybe he took his eye off the ball, and you would certainly like to think in the rematch that Tyson is fully focused, is training and sparring and has that bit between his teeth to get the victory.”

JC: That could be the case that Tyson Fury has reached his mountain. Maybe he took his eye off the ball, and you would certainly like to think in the rematch that Tyson is fully focused, is training and sparring and has that bit between his teeth to get the victory. You just don’t know what is going through his mind and how is body is responding so again, it makes for an interesting fight.