Undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor had a couple of things to say recently about his upcoming fight against Jack Catterall.
“The needle will come.” “He just isn’t as good I am.”
The Scottish southpaw puts his four belts on the line against the Englishman on February 26 at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow. As the days and nights draw closer the fuse has yet to be lit in the build-up.
The two fighters have already met face to face and took part in a two press conferences North and South of the border to promote the fight. While some words have been exchanged matters have been respectful thus far.
“I like to show respect. But it depends on how they act towards you,” Taylor told Sky Sports.
Taylor is used to fireworks leading up to fight night, particularly during the final days before a punch is thrown. His all-British clash against Ohara Davies was particularly fiery but the back and forth was taken to a new level in Las Vegas when ‘The Tartan Tornado’ tore into Las Vegas to make Jose Ramirez as uncomfortable as possible.
Taylor said that things are calm and relaxed just now ahead of next month’s fight but, “There is time for the needle to come! And it will come. The closer the fight gets, it will come.”
Catterall, unbeaten in 26 bouts, has patiently waited for his shot in his position as WBO mandatory challenger. The Chorley southpaw has wins against Joe Hughes, Tyrone Nurse, Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies on his record but is yet to face anyone nearly as good as Taylor.
“He’s a good fighter, I’ve got a lot of respect for Jack” the champion said.
“It’s a step up in class for him because he hasn’t boxed at the level I have. He is a talented fighter, but he hasn’t got what it takes to beat me.”
Catterall’s trainer Jamie Moore described Taylor as a ‘high octane, exciting fighter’.
“Mistakes that a fighter of his calibre makes are few and far between. But the antidotes to Taylor’s style? Jack has them.”
“I beat Josh by listening to instructions,” said Catterall. “Using everything I’ve learned over the years and executing it.”