Jack Catterall avenged a controversial defeat by beating Scotsman Josh Taylor on points in front of a raucous crowd in Leeds.
All three judges awarded the bout to El Gato, with the scorecards reading it 117-111, 117-111 and 116-113.
The Chorley-born fighter arguably landed the cleanest punches throughout the bout but had to withstand a brave fight back from Taylor to hand him only the second defeat of his professional career.
“I can now close this chapter with Josh Taylor,” Catterall told BBC Radio 5 Live. “There was a bit of frustration but we’ve got past that. [them] And he continued to maintain discipline.
“We’ve been together for 24 rounds. A lot has been said but I’ve always respected my opponent. He’s a tough competitor.”
But Taylor said he wanted a third meeting to “get it done”.
The Scotsman insisted he had done enough to win a thrilling match, adding: “Considering all the fuss around the first game, they gave Jack the win.”
The fight picks up steam in the third round
There has been a widespread impression that both boxers’ careers have stagnated since their first bout in Glasgow in February 2022, when the judges declared Taylor the winner in a bout that most spectators believed he would lose.
The Prestonpans native has fought just once since then, losing a decision to Teofimo Lopez in New York last June, while Catterall has points wins over Darragh Foley and veteran Jorge Linares but has done little to improve his chances of regaining a world title.
The animosity between Taylor and Catterall is real and intense, but in the lead up to this highly anticipated rematch, both men spoke about the importance of controlling their emotions when it finally comes time to step back between the ropes.
The bout took place less than 50 miles from his hometown of Chorley and Catterall entered the ring to thunderous applause, while Taylor seemed perfectly happy to play the villain as boos rained down on him by a rapt crowd of 11,000.
How much more does the 33-year-old Taylor have left? Is Catterall ready to prove he belongs at world level? These are the questions looming as the two fierce rivals finally get down to business.
Catterall started off with a right jab early on, then received some deft overhand lefts from Taylor as he backed his opponent against the ropes.
The head clash left Taylor with severe bruising on his head and he appeared to be in a lot of pain.
Both fighters promised that the second bout would be more exciting and tricky than the first, and things came to life in the third bout when Taylor landed a powerful left punch that sent Catterall against the ropes, but the Brit fought fire with fire to claim the win himself.
Taylor tried to pick up the pace, hounding his opponent around the ring, but Catterall was adept at boxing off the back and a late onslaught seemed to favour Taylor in the fourth round.
Catterall came out on a hot streak in the fifth round, taking down Taylor with a quick combination in the centre of the ring. The Scotsman ended the round on the ropes, with Catterall attacking Taylor and breathing a sigh of relief as the bell rang.
As the chants of “Chorley, Chorley” grew louder, the opposition players gained firm control of the ball and Taylor tried to push again, but his shots were not as clean as the ones he received.
This time there is no opposition to the decision
Taylor is nothing if not a warrior, and he emerged with renewed vigor in the seventh, landing a beautiful counter left that landed beautifully and, for the first time in the fight, Catterall seemed to feel the effects of Taylor’s attack.
The Scotsman looked to be starting to get into the fight but a rapid succession of punches snapped his head back and once again changed the tide of the fight.
Entering the 10th round, with both fighters showing noticeable swelling under their eyes, the early chase turned into a fierce battle in the center of the ring.
Perhaps sensing he was losing on the scorecards, Taylor went after Catterall in the 11th but was met with some hard shots and weathered the fight.
Going into the final round, there was a sense of déjà vu that Taylor definitely needed a stoppage, or at least a knockdown, to win the fight. Would Catterall try to avoid bothering the referee this time?
Both fighters fought bravely to the end, but neither man had the stamina to finish the match and their fate was once again left in the referee’s hands.
This time there was no debate, and while some might argue the scorecards were a little off, Catterall earned the win he deserved for his performance.
He will now continue his quest for a world title. For Taylor, the future is less clear.
