Jack Catterall has the chance to hit the jackpot when he faces undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow tomorrow night.
The Chorley fighter gets the opportunity to wrest all four of the unbeaten world champion’s belts from him in one fight.
The 31-year-old Scot will be appearing in front of a Glasgow crowd for the first time in almost three years and with a packed house cheering him on he is the heavy favourite to extend his 18-0-0 record.
However, 28-year-old Catterall, also unbeaten with a record of 26-0-0, knows that a golden opportunity for him beckons.
He said: “Of course it is. I was mandatory for the one title and I get to fight for all the belts now.
“Josh said it and it’s no lie, it is the jackpot.
“I have been working super-hard towards a world title for years.
“I was mandatory for a world title for over two years. It has been a constant chase but one that I have used the time wisely, I have been grafting in the gym, training and waiting for this moment."
He added: “It is the Josh Taylor homecoming fight, he has been out to America, he’s had big fights and brought all the belts home.
“I am excited to be here now. I am buzzing. I am going to perform out of my skin on Saturday night. Everything I have done over the last, not just 10/12 weeks but over the last 17 years (is for this).
“I have got to put on a career-best performance and beat Josh on Saturday.
“It is all about levels and I feel that I am training at a world level. The only difference between me and Josh is the opportunity.
“Over the last two years Josh has gone and won world titles, I have not had those fights but I get to do that on Saturday.”
Taylor unified all four junior welterweight belts with a convincing decision over the previously undefeated Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas in May 2021 in front of a restricted attendance, and in September 2020 he beat Apinun Khongsong behind closed doors at the York Hall, London.
Previous to that was a victory over Regis Prograis at the O2 Arena in London in October 2019 and tonight he fights in front of home fans for the first time in almost three years against Catterall.
And the Scotsman is relishing the prospect of an enthusiastic support at the Glasgow venue, whose capacity is around 14,000, and which is all but sold out.
Taylor said: “I will be more fired up, more alive and more electric, more butterflies in the stomach, that little bit of nerves that you need to keep you on your toes."
Taylor had plenty to say to Catterall as the two boxers faced off for the cameras following a media conference in the SEC in Glasgow.
He said: “I was saying I was hoping he is ready for the fight on Saturday, that I can’t see a way he beats me.
“I was asking how he was going to beat me, obviously he is not going to say but I know the tactics he is going to bring on and it is not going to be enough.
“I know he is nervous, he is obviously trying to match what I was saying but I know he is nervous.
“There are four belts up for grabs but they are staying here in Scotland. There is absolutely no way they are going anywhere.”
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