Eddie Hearn Eyes Title Shot for Jack Catterall After Stunning Victory

Catterall’s Victory Over Taylor Ignites Title Ambitions

Promoter Eddie Hearn is optimistic that Jack Catterall’s recent triumph over Josh Taylor in Leeds will pave the way for a world title fight. Catterall outperformed his fierce rival in a thrilling 12-round bout at the First Direct Arena, leaving fans and pundits eagerly anticipating his next move.

Targeting Teofimo Lopez

Catterall expressed his desire to challenge WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, although there is considerable interest in a third fight with Taylor to settle their 1-1 rivalry. Hearn shared his thoughts on Catterall’s prospects:

“After a fight like that, with that kind of profile in front of a sold-out crowd and huge worldwide audience live on DAZN and also, in the US, on ESPN+, Jack is right up there,” Hearn stated.

Strategic Positioning for a Title Fight

Hearn emphasised the importance of securing significant fights for Catterall’s career:

“Of course, people talk about the trilogy [with Taylor]. For me, I will always look at the biggest fights out there. But it’s also important we look at the big fights for the career of Jack Catterall. He should have been the undisputed world champion [after not getting the decision in the first fight with Taylor], so we now need to try and position him for a world championship.”

He added, “When you have a performance like that and a night like that, positioning someone like that is far easier to do because people want to see it.”

Upcoming Fights and Future Plans

The boxing landscape is set for several pivotal matches, which could influence Catterall’s path to a title: “We have Subriel Matias fighting Liam Paro in a couple of weeks [June 15] and we will have Devin Haney fighting Sandor Martin. Teofimo Lopez is fighting Steve Claggett – and, without being disrespectful to Steve Claggett, it is a disgrace. It’s a joke fight for someone who says he’s the best 140lbs in the world. Jack Catterall is the guy who should be fighting Teofimo Lopez, and we believe he will beat him all day long.”

Hearn remains adamant that Catterall deserves to be a world champion and is focused on ensuring his next bout is a significant one: “We believe that Jack should be a world champion now, but that’s a thing of the past and is now the next step and the natural step. One thing we know for sure, it will be a massive fight next – and, if I have a choice, it will be for a world title against Lopez.”

This roadmap for Catterall promises exciting times ahead, with fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of his next opponent and the potential for a world title clash on the horizon.