Jack Catterall will be looking to prove he deserves to be fighting the big boys when he takes on former world champion Jorge Linares at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday, October 21.
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I don’t care what anyone says – Jack Catterall should already be a world champion.
I am not a fan of saying fighters were robbed or cheated, but unfortunately there are no other words to describe what happened to Catterall when he fought Josh Taylor in February 2022.
The Chorley fighter produced the best performance of his career as he took on Taylor for the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring super light welterweight titles.
He outfought Taylor for 12 rounds and looked like a clear winner. Only the judges disagreed. Taylor won a split decision and it’s a call that most of the people in the OVO Hydro that night still disagree with.
How Catterall did not win will always remain a mystery – although deep down we all know why. He dropped Taylor in the eighth, cut him twice and both men had a point deducted, there is no way Taylor won that fight.
Catterall will say he is over that and wants to move on. He has had one fight since his one and only loss. He beat Darragh Foley on points to claim the vacant WBA Intercontinental light welterweight title.
He now has to prove he is a big deal by beating a man that British fight fans know all too well – Jorge Linares.
Linares beat Anthony Crolla back in 2016 to win the WBA and The Ring lightweight titles, before beating him again in 2017 to retain the belts. He then defeated Olympian Luke Campbell in California.
Linares will go down as one of the greats in the world of boxing. But he is 38 now and is not getting any younger. I am privileged to have seen him live in the second Crolla fight, and he had the quickest hands I had ever seem – I don’t think he is as quick or dangerous nowadays.
He is still more dangerous than your average fighter, but I have to back Catterall in this one. ‘El Gato’ cannot afford another defeat if he is to push towards finally becoming a world champion. Back him to win this fight on points.
BettingPro Tips
- Jack Catterall to beat Jorge Linares
- Jack Catterall to win on points
- Will the fight go the distance? Yes