Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall have found themselves embroiled in a fierce all-British rivalry following the controversy of their first encounter and their respective behaviours since. As the duo prepare to settle their differences in the ring on Saturday night, we looked back on some of the United Kingdom’s most hotly-anticipated rematches.
5. Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr.
Liam Smith shocked the world when he knocked out Chris Eubank Jr. after moving up in weight, appeasing fans in attendance who portrayed the Scouser as the humble working-class hero against the arrogant pantomime villain.
As a result, the career of Eubank Jr. was on the line when the contrasting duo collided for a second occasion and the country tuned in to see the demise of the son of a similarly controversial British boxing legend.
However, on fight night it was a different story as a clearly troubled Smith was out-battled and knocked out by his foe as Eubank got his sweet revenge to get his career back on track, leaving ‘Beefy’ out in the cold and positioning himself for a shot at the middleweight world title – a shot which he is still yet to take.
4. Tony Bellew vs David Haye
Former heavyweight world champion came back from almost four years away from the ring to secure two early knockout wins before setting up a grudge match with WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew.
However, in their first encounter, old injuries came back to haunt ‘The Hayemaker’ – who ruptured his Achillies tendon in the sixth-round but fought through the pain before his corner threw in the towel in the eleventh.
Maintaining that he would have claimed victory without the injury, Bellew and Haye met once again just over a year after their first encounter. Although the injury was not apparent in the rematch, the age of David Haye was – as he was unable to both time and keep up with an explosive Bellew, who floored his rival thrice before claiming a TKO win in the fifth.
3. Tony Bellew vs Nathan Cleverly
Six years prior to victory over Haye, Bellew was less successful in a more intense rivalry with Nathan Cleverly who put on a British classic after a heated fight week, with Cleverly being awarded with a majority-decision win and being crowned as the WBO light-heavyweight champion.
In 2014, the pair met again but this time in the cruiserweight division, where further excitement seemed inevitable. Yet, the rematch between Cleverly and Bellew will be forever remembered as a monumental disappointment, as Bellew got his vengeance in an amazingly dull showdown, regardless of yet another fierce build-up.
2. Carl Froch vs. George Groves
The story of Froch and Groves is a tale that will be passed on for generations as the super-middleweight rivals lock horns and had the country truly fixated on boxing. Froch had already won the hearts of his fans in Britain through tremendous heart and willingness to fight anybody but the up-and-coming Groves was certainly no mug.
After dominating the early exchanges and dropping ‘The Cobra’ in the opening round, Groves seemed to be on his way to the upset win, until Froch appeared to hurt his countryman in the ninth-round whilst behind on the cards.
Before Groves had the chance to shake off the pain, referee Howard Foster jumped in and waived off the contest in one of the most controversial moments in British boxing history.
A determined Groves was eager to right the wrongs of the first fight and his rematch with Froch was so gripping to the British public that it saw Wembley Stadium host a boxing event for the first time in almost two decades and was the first card staged at the home of English football since the ground was rebuilt in 2007.
On this occasion, Froch seemed to be far more motivated, keen to silence his doubters but still the fight was extremely tight until Froch landed a peach of a straight-right in the eighth-round – a stoppage that nobody could complain about this time around.
1. Chris Eubank vs. Nigel Benn
However, when it comes to British rivalries, it will take something otherworldly to trump the quality of and hatred between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.
As his son is today, Eubank was an unusual character but an extremely talented boxer, Nigel Benn was quite simply a fearless fighter, built on hard-work, grit and toughness, and their opposing personalities were clear to see before they stepped through the ropes with the WBO middleweight title up for grabs.
When they first clashed – a war ensued. After nine thrilling rounds, the slick and accurate Eubank proved too much for Benn, who took too many shots for the referee’s liking and was stopped on his feet. A visibly damaged and relieved Eubank screamed to the heavens in celebration of his most arduous victory, before describing Benn as an ‘animal’ in the post-fight interview.
Three years on and Benn and his nemesis crossed paths again, this time in a unification bout for the WBO and WBC super-middleweight titles, although pride was more of a motivating factor than any belt. Infatuated by the conflicting personas, the world of boxing stood still and bear witness to another British classic.
As anticipated, Benn applied pressure throughout but this time it was calculated, proving to be more than just the brawler that Eubank and others perceived him to be, resulting in a more tactical affair. With both men feeling as though they needed the twelfth-round to win, Eubank and Benn stood and traded leather before the judges ruled the fight as a draw.
Taylor-Catterall II takes place in Leeds on Saturday night and has all the makings of yet another famous all-British rematch, following on from what is widely-received as one of the worst judging decisions in recent memory when they toe-to-toe in Scotland in February 2022.
The full card will be available to watch live on DAZN and features a further a British cruiserweight title match-up between Chev Clarke and Ellis Zorro on the undercard.
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