Taylor vs Catterall: Ring walk time, how to watch, undercard, odds
Josh Taylor makes his first defence since becoming undisputed champion as he takes on WBO mandatory challenger Jack Catterall before potentially moving up to 147lb… everything to know ahead of the bout next weekend
- Josh Taylor is set to defend his full set of super-lightweight belts on February 26
- It will be his first defence since becoming undisputed champion last year
- The ‘Tartan Tornado’ comes up against unbeaten Englishman Jack Catterall
- Taylor could make a move up to welterweight should he emerge victorious
Undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor makes his return to the ring on February 26 as he takes on unbeaten Englishman Jack Catterall in Glasgow.
The ‘Tartan Tornado’ put in a stunning performance as he became Britain’s first-ever undisputed champion in the four-belt era with victory over Jose Carlos Ramirez last year.
The 31-year-old now returns to the ring once more to take on his WBO mandatory challenger Catterall, 28, in a bout that was first scheduled for December last year, before it was rescheduled after Taylor suffered a knee injury in training, having already had Covid and a chest infection.
Taylor has on multiple occasions discussed the possibility of moving on from the super-lightweight division in pursuit of welterweight glory, as he targets the likes of Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr.
Catterall insists his opponent would be a ‘fool’ to overlook him, however, as he looks to shock the home crowd on Taylor’s return to Glasgow.
With the spectacle swiftly approaching, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know.
Josh Taylor (left) and Jack Catterall (right) go head-to-head in Glasgow on February 26
Taylor is fighting for the first time since becoming undisputed super-lightweight champion
The clash between Taylor and Catterall is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 26 at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow.
The pair are expected to walk to the ring at around 10pm for those in the UK, though that will of course depend on results beforehand.
There is also action in abundance on the undercard, with heavyweights Nick Campbell and Jay McFarlane going head-to-head.
Cori Gibbs, winner of the BOXXER Series tournament that took place last year, is also in action.
How to watch the fight
The fight, which will be a 12-round contest, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Customers will be able to stream the fight via the app on their mobile, tablet or computer device.
You can also buy a Sky Sports Day Pass from Now for £9.98, which also includes a six-month Mobile Month Membership.
Sportsmail will also be covering the fight live, so you can keep up-to-date with us.
Taylor vs Catterall: The key stats
Josh Taylor
Age: 31
Height: 5ft 10in
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 18W, 0L, 0D
Knockouts: 13
Rounds: 103
Debut: 2015
Jack Catterall
Age: 28
Height: 5ft 7in
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 26W, 0L, 0D
Knockouts: 13
Rounds: 160
Debut: 2012
Taylor is unbeaten in 18 professional outings, with 13 of those wins coming by stoppage
Fight card in full
- Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall – for WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring light-welterweight titles
- Nick Campbell vs Jay McFarlane
- Robeisy Ramirez vs Eric Donovan
- Cori Gibbs vs Carlos Perez
- Ebonie Jones vs Effie Kathopouli
- Scott Forrest vs TBC
- Kurt Walker vs TBC
- Paddy Donovan vs TBC
- Kieran Molloy vs TBC
- Mark McKeown vs TBC
- Craig McIntyre vs TBC
*More to follow
What’s been said?
Taylor has conceded he respects the ability of his impending opponent but insists the skills he possesses simply won’t be enough come fight night.
‘I like to show respect,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘But it depends on how they act towards you. It is calm and relaxed – but there is time for the needle to come! And it will come. The closer the fight gets, it will come.’
He continued: ‘He’s a good fighter, I’ve got a lot of respect for Jack. But he will come up short.
‘He will taste his first defeat as a professional. He’s a good fighter. He just isn’t as good as I am.
‘It is a step up in class for him because he hasn’t boxed at the level that I have. He is a talented fighter but he hasn’t got what it takes to beat me.’
Taylor rates Catterall highly but insists his opponent will come up short on the night
Catterall acknowledges he’s making a massive step up in class for the undisputed clash
Meanwhile, Catterall acknowledges he’s got a mammoth task ahead of him but insists he’s ready for the challenge.
‘He’s really good, undisputed world champion,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘But I don’t look to much into that, I’ve been focusing on myself and what I need to do to beat Josh.
Asked whether it’s a step up in class, Catterall said: ‘Definitely, it’s fighting for the undisputed. I’ve been mandatory for the WBO world title for a couple of years now and I’m getting the chance to fight Josh for all the belts in boxing. It’s definitely a step up for me.’
Reflecting on Taylor’s crowning moment against Ramirez, Catterall added: ‘It was a great fight. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I was out there as a Josh Taylor fan, so to speak. I wanted Josh to win the fight so we could be in this position now, where we are, to get the fight on back in Great Britain.’
And asked how he’ll win the fight, he said: ‘I beat Josh by listening to instructions, doing the stuff that we’ve worked on since the very start of my career. Using everything I’ve learned over the years, and executing it.’
A move to welterweight next for Taylor?
Taylor’s impending bout against Catterall could well be his last at super-lightweight, with a move to a thriving welterweight division potentially on the cards.
The Scot is on the search for legacy, and he doesn’t believe he can add too much at super-lightweight, having already won all the belts.
There are a number of enticing encounters out there at welterweight, including against the likes of Crawford, Yordenis Ugas and Spence Jr – the latter two are set to square off in a unification bout in April.
‘I’d like to move up to 147 and become a two-weight world champion,’ Josh Taylor told RingTV.
Taylor could soon move up to welterweight, where he could fight Terence Crawford
‘Chase some of these big, massive fights, that’s what I want to do. Go straight in with someone like Ugas, make a big statement.
‘Hopefully become a unified world champion at welterweight, in an ideal world become undisputed.
‘These are massive, massive goals and way down the line but it’s definitely possible. Go down as a hall of fame fighter, that’s what I want to do.’
Taylor, known to be a big fighter for his weight, has insisted he has no issues in making the weight at 140lbs, however, and has admitted a move come could come further down the line.
Taylor vs Catterall: The odds
Having emerged as one of the pound-for-pound stars across world boxing, it comes as no surprise that Taylor is the overwhelming favourite to win on February 26.
The Scot is the 1/14 favourite to get the win, with a draw at 22/1 and a Catterall victory at 13/2.
*Odds as per Betfair and correct at the time of publication.
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