Rematches in the sport of boxing are often at fault for holding up natural movements in rankings, but there’s a match-up Tony Bellew says he needs to see before either fighter can move ahead with his career.
The former cruiserweight world champion found himself in a position to look for a second fight to settle a score during the closing years of his own campaign.
His rematch with David Haye was partly pushed through because Bellew and his team had been accused of ‘fluking’ the win in the first fight when Haye tore his achilles tendon. The result would be the same the second time around.
Now, he’s calling for a rematch not because of injury, but controversy.
Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall battled it out over 12 rounds in the super-lightweight division last year, with Taylor successfully defending his undisputed championship.
That result was seemingly in the eyes of the judges only, with the vast majority of fighters, fans and pundits giving Caterall the nod.
Speaking to October Red, Bellew said the pair need to run it back and put a full stop on their rivalry.
“I don’t think his career can move on until he gets a hold of Josh Taylor. I think both of them are stuck in a trajectory with each other. Neither Josh Taylor nor Jack Catterall can move on any further in their career until they face each other again.”
“And that is through no fault of the fighters by the way. That is through the pure incompetence of the officials, the judges, the referees, whoever else that took part in that. I’m telling you straight – they can’t move on.”
Since that fight, Taylor has vacated three of his four titles and lost the WBO belt to Teofimo Lopez. He has since confirmed a move up to welterweight after being tight at the 140 limit for some time.
Catterall has built up two wins – Darragh Foley and Jorge Linares – and is now calling for the rematch. A back and forth recently helped to sell it, but the pair would likely have to meet at a catchweight to satisfy both sides.