Josh Taylor has vowed to resurrect his career and ‘smash’ Jack Catterall to prove he still belongs among the elite talents in world boxing.
The bitter rivals clashed in Edinburgh at a promotional event for their grudge rematch, which is to held in Leeds on April 27.
In a typically fiery exchange, they had to be separated by security after Englishman Catterall grabbed Taylor by the throat.
It was almost a carbon-copy of what happened at the weigh-in for their first bout two years ago, which Taylor won thanks to a hugely controversial split decision.
Catterall has claimed that Taylor is now a spent force, with the Scot losing his unbeaten record and the last of his four light-welterweight world titles to Teofimo Lopez in New York last year.
Jack Catterall grabbed Josh Taylor by the throat during a promotional event for their rematch
The bitter rivals fight on April 27 in a rematch to their bout in 2022 – where Taylor prevailed
The 33-year-old Scot admits that he has a point to prove, but is determined to reignite his career by setting the record straight against his English rival.
‘I do have a point to prove – because my last two performances have been c***,’ said Taylor. ‘I need to produce the goods this time. Otherwise, it’s a question of where do I go?
‘Do I go back to fighting down a level? I wouldn’t let myself do that because I know I’m one of the best fighters in the world. I need to produce the goods this time.
‘There’s no belts this time. This will just be a good display of boxing. I’m going down there to smash him to bits and put him back to bed.
‘It’s a crossroads fight. I’ve got a point to prove and be back to my best to win this fight and keep my career on the go.’
This will be Taylor’s fourth fight in three years, a period of inactivity which has led many to question whether he can still cut it at the top level of boxing.
He became the unified champion at light-welterweight after beating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas in May 2021, before looking laboured in his two subsequent performances against Catterall and Lopez.
On the idea that he’s been well below his best, Taylor said: ‘Yeah, I think that’s definitely fair comment. It definitely wasn’t the best version of me against Jack.
Their recent confrontation was almost a carbon copy from their weigh in back in 2022
‘It was a terrible performance from me – and not a very good one from him either with all the holding and spoiling. He was just cuddling me at times.
‘I hope we get a referee this time who doesn’t allow that intense kind of spoiling tactics. It’s a fight and we should be showing our skills.
‘I’ve not showed up and not been great in the last couple of fights, that’s probably fair.
‘But how many fighters in the past have had a couple of bad nights, but then come back even stronger. I fully expect to be back to my best.’
A fight two years in the making as Taylor and Catterall traded insults on social media, the bout has been billed with the tagline of ‘Hate Runs Deep’.
Both fighters were quick to play down the notion of any genuine hatred, albeit there is undeniable bad blood on both sides.
Taylor also insisted that he’s more than happy to fight at 140lbs again, after appearing to struggle to make weight two years ago against Catterall and saying afterwards that it would be his last before moving up to 147lbs.
Taylor is looking to bounce back from the first loss of his career to Teofimo Lopez (left)
The pair (seen fighting in 2022) have traded insults on social media ahead of the bout which has been billed with the tagline of ‘Hate Runs Deep’
‘I was the one who insisted on going in at 140lbs,’ said the Scot. We’ve done all the tests and analysis, spoke to my nutritionists and so on.
‘I can make the weight comfortably – unlike him. I’ve given him all the terms he wanted, it’s on neutral ground in England as well.
‘What can he moan about this time when he doesn’t win? Maybe he’ll phone the police – or write a letter to his MP in the House of Commons.
‘It’s billed as Hate Runs Deep – but I don’t hate anyone. I don’t like Jack. He’s too stupid to wind me up anyway.’
In the two years since his first bout with Taylor, Catterall has beaten Irish journeyman Darragh Foley and Venezuelan veteran Jorge Linares.
He has vowed to knock Taylor out this time around, after being denied on points last time in Glasgow despite knocking the Scot down and looking sharper throughout.
‘I believe I won last time,’ said the man from Chorley in Lancashire. ‘I stayed in the gym, looked after myself and picked up two victories.
‘Josh went to New York and got smashed – and I believe he’s on the decline.
‘I’m going to capitalise on it and put him to bed. Do I expect to win the fight inside the distance? One hundred percent. Without a shadow of a doubt I’m coming in there to do damage.’