JACK Catterall is looking no further than tonight’s grudge rematch with Josh Taylor - although he admits he wants to use it as a stepping stone for another shot at a world title.
The Chorley fighter is fit and focused for the super-Lightweight showdown at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Getting the two fighters back in the ring has been along time coming and the pair have shared a war of words ever since Taylor’s controversial points victory during their first meeting in 2022 - when the Scot was the undisputed world super lightweight champion.
Since that fight, Taylor vacated three of the four world titles and was beaten by Teofimo Lopez on points to surrender the WBO version in June last year.
But for Catterall, it is revenge and not belts that are at stake this evening.
“In the back of my mind I knew this fight was eventually going to happen, but we’re here now,” said the 30-year-old.
“Weight is good, everything is good. I take confidence from how hard I have worked in the gym. For me, it is about being selfish, spending time with my team, switching off and when it’s time to go to work in the dressing room, I’ll flick that switch and we’ll be ready.”
Catterall says the remain is personal and he is targetting a victory that he hopes will eventually end with him being crowned a world champion.
“We saw each other at the First Face Off and there wasn’t a word spoken from him,” he said. “I think we’re both focused on the job.
“For me it’s personal with Josh. It’s a fight that I believe I won. I’m excited to put that right. I still have goals and aspirations of becoming a World Champion, but one step at a time.
“We’ve got a big fight and that’s all I’m focused on.”
While Catterall is confident he can get the win he believes he was denied in their first meeting, Taylor says the Chorley man wasted his opportunity.
The 33-year believes his performance that night was not a true representation of his ability and that Catterall blew his chance of making history.
“He’ll have no excuses when I beat him up properly for the second time,” Taylor said.
“That version he got of me in the first fight, you’ll never get that version of Josh Taylor again. That was his chance to make history and he mucked it up, he’ll never get that chance again.”
Taylor said he would relish inflicting pain on his rival, who felt he should have won the first fight.
“The true Josh Taylor will come out and if it’s a great fight and I’m doing well, I’ll outperform him, outbox him, it will just be like what I should’ve done to him the first time,” Taylor added.
“I don’t care what people think, I’m just after the win. Ideally I want to make it a long and painful night for him but don’t get me wrong if I see that opportunity then I’ll be taking it and getting him out of there.
“Let’s make it a phone box and punch lumps out of each other and really mess him up, why not? We’ve got things which we’ve worked on in the gym. I’ve been flying in sparring so I’m feeling good, sharp and strong.”
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