Bob Arum has issued the clearest indication yet that we’re going to get a rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
The pair clashed in an undisputed super-lightweight title showdown earlier this year.
Taylor inexplicably outpointed the number one with the WBO for all four titles – the IBF, WBC and WBA Super belts were also at stake – back in February at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
Many thought that Catterall (26-1, 13 KOs) had beaten the 31-year-old Scot convincingly, only for scorecards of 113-112, 111-114 and 112-113 to have been handed in by the three ringside judges as ‘El Gato’ was on the wrong end of a split decision.
In the aftermath of the questionable victory, Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) gave up the WBA Super and WBC titles.
Most recently, it was the IBF crown that fell by the wayside after the Edinburgh man was ordered to defend the title against Jeremias Ponce.
It was revealed earlier this week that Taylor had relinquished the red, white and gold belt, with Ponce now set to face number two in the rankings, Subriel Matias, for the belt, with rumours swirling that they have an October date in mind for the clash.
And Arum, who promotes Commonwealth Games gold medallist Taylor, told Sky Sports that a deal for the rematch between his man and Catterall is nearly complete.
He said:
“I think it’s almost there. My legal staff are handling that and the last report I had was that everybody seems like they’re on board.
“It isn’t signed yet, but I’m reasonably optimistic that the fight will take place. I think the date is the last Saturday in November, the 26th, and I would like to see if we could do it in Scotland, where the last fight occurred.
“[Josh] Taylor told us he was very disappointed with his performance in that fight, even though he felt he won and I thought he won, but it will be a good rematch as Catterall is a pretty good fighter.”
Taylor still holds the Ring Magazine title and had previously flirted, after the first fight against Catterall, with the idea of heading up in weight to welterweight to take on the likes of Terence Crawford, the WBO champion, or unified IBF, WBA Super and WBC king Errol Spence Jr.
However, it now looks as though Taylor, from Prestonpans in Edinburgh, will take on Chorley man Catterall – who recently signed a promotional pact with Boxxer to fight on Sky Sports – for a second time.
Boxing Social understands discussions had been had with the AO Arena in Manchester to stage the return between the pair, prior to the decision for the fight to head up north again.