Boxing Manager, Sam Jones, reflects on Jack Catterall’s return to the ring, and what the clear unanimous decision victory in Manchester sets him up for next.
It was absolutely fantastic to see Jack back inside the ropes against a tough Darragh Foley. We knew what he was going to bring as an opponent – he was game and he was very resilient. He entered the ring off the back of a good win against Robbie Davis Jr, and, like Jack, he’s a southpaw which can always be tricky.
For me, Jack did everything right. He won every second of every round against a man who was there to win. Yes, a stoppage would’ve been nice, but Foley has heard the final bell in every fight of his career – he’s as durable as they come. Jack scored the two knockdowns whilst showing great range and timing, so I’m delighted.
I know it’s an old cliche in boxing to say get the rounds in, but Jack did need those rounds. He’s been out the ring for a year and a half. The period since the Josh Taylor fight in February 2022 has been frustrating for him. There’s nothing worse for a man born to fight than to be sitting on the sidelines and facing postponements, so the Foley bout means a lot in the bigger picture of his career.
On to the next, and I’ve been instructed by Jack to open conversations about challenging for Regis Prograis’ WBC Super-Lightweight World title. That’s the fight he wants. I’m waiting to have a meeting with Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith at Matchroom next week.
Despite positive conversations, this is boxing and we know it’s by no means nailed on. Ultimately, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez – these are all fights that Jack will take without hesitation. The Taylor rematch is always going to be there, too. Everyone knows what happened in that fight – Jack was a clear winner, and fans want them to run it back because it was taken away from him.
We genuinely believe he’s going to be world champion at 140lbs. It’s not if, it’s when. He’s an elite level fighter, he’s proved that and he’ll prove it again in a Prograis fight – which he more than deserves in my opinion. Listen, he should be undisputed, but that’s been and gone now, so he’ll pick up the belts one by one, starting with that man from New Orleans.