Jack Catterall hopes his patience will be rewarded with the chance to win two world title belts. 

The Chorley star is the long-time number one contender to face WBO World super-lightweight champion Maurice Hooker and has been waiting for his chance to win the big one. 

But the unbeaten former British champion has now seen the American sign up for a unification fight with WBC belt holder Jose Ramirez on July 27 in Arlington, Dallas. 

That has left Catterall with mixed emotions with his patience being tested even further. 

It does however mean that the 25-year-old could be in line to challenge for even more gold than he anticipated when his time finally comes. 

“When I first heard I was really annoyed,” said Catterall, the WBO’s Inter-Continental champion. 

“I’ve had that WBO belt for about four years. 

“I’ve been building my way up the rankings and I think I deserve my shot at the title. 

“But ultimately he’s going to unify and is going to fight Ramirez who has got the WBC title. 

“I just hope that over the next couple of months, however it pans out, I will get my shot and hopefully it means there will be another belt on the line. 

“I boxed Ohara Davies in October and since then I’ve had an eight-round fight. 

“It’s been quite frustrating, I feel like I’m waiting all the time but I know that patience is a virtue and I will get there in the end.”

Hooker, unbeaten in 29 fights with 17 knockouts, will have home advantage against Ramirez, as he steps through the ropes in his home state for the first time as a world champion. 

The 29-year-old won the title in Oklahoma in November, getting off the canvas to stop Alex Saucedo in his backyard, before widely outpointing Mikkel LesPierre in his first defence in Verona, New York in March – a fight which Catterall attended. 

Ramirez, with 16 knockouts in 24 fights, puts his belt on the line for the third time having landed the vacant strap in March 2018 against Amir Imam in New York. 

The 2012 Olympian handed a first defeat to Antonio Orozco in his first defence at home in September in Fresno, California, and then edged a majority decision against Jose Zepeda in February in the same venue.

“I flew over to New York in March to watch Hooker fight over there and I think he’s more than beatable,” said Catterall. 

“I feel like Hooker-Ramirez is a 50-50 fight. 

“I don’t think they are world class, although they’ve got the world titles. 

“I see it being a close match-up and it will be interesting to see who wins that fight.”

Catterall, with 13 stoppages in his 24 victories was last seen at Wembley Arena back in April when he saw off Oscar Amador inside three rounds.

He will certainly be an interested observer when July 27 comes around, both Hooker and Ramirez in confident mood.