Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Fight updates and undercard results as ‘justice’ is served
Jack Catterall banished the shadow of his controversial loss to Josh Taylor by defeating the Scot in a thriller on Saturday.
Over two years after Taylor won a hotly-contested decision against the Englishman in Glasgow, Catterall outboxed a determined Taylor to gain “justice” – as promoter Eddie Hearn described the result.
Catterall avenged the sole loss of his professional career by winning 117-111, 117-111, 116-113 in Leeds. Hearn did suggest that the scorecards were “too wide”, while fellow promoter Bob Arum grabbed a microphone to declare the scores a “disgrace”, but most observers agreed that Catterall was the right winner.
While the rivals’ first clash was a scrappy affair, their rematch produced numerous moments of great quality. Taylor pressed forward throughout, while Catterall fought well behind his jab and put together a number of impressive flurries. Catterall started to pull away as the fight entered its second half, and although a resilient Taylor arrested some momentum, his fellow southpaw produced more crucial moments of quality late on.
Re-live Taylor vs Catterall 2 and see all the fallout, below:
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall 2 LIVE
Jack Catterall beat Josh Taylor via unanimous decision in Leeds
Rematch took place over two years after Taylor’s controversial win
Catterall won 117-111, 117-111, 116-113; Indy Sport scored it 116-112
Promoter Eddie Hearn suggested scores were “too wide”; Arum labelled them a “disgrace”
But most fans and pundits agreed with Hearn that “justice” was served
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Result
00:30 , Alex Pattle
Arum: “Those scorecards were a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. I really feel sorry for Josh, I thought he won the fight. Those scorecards were ridiculous. I will never, ever allow an American fighter to come here with the British Board scoring the fight. Those scores were ridiculous.”
Embarrassing scene involving the 92-year-old, in all honesty.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
00:15 , Alex Pattle
Tony Bellew: “The judges are gonna cloud Catterall’s moment. I had it a really close fight. That 117-111 twice is a disgrace. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Just because wrong was done to Catterall two years ago, doesn’t make it right to do that to Taylor tonight.”
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
00:10 , Alex Pattle
Taylor: “I thought it was a great fight. Fair play to Jack, he boxed a better fight today. I thought I just nicked it. It was a close fight. If he wants to go on to bigger fights, he deserves it, he won. But that’s 1-1, let’s do a trilogy.”
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
00:03 , Alex Pattle
Catterall’s manager Sam Jones: “Heart palpitations. It’s not good for your health.
“Josh put on a fantastic performance, he was hurt several times.
“I thought the scores were a little too wide, but Jack was a rightful winner.”
Catterall’s fiancee Lauren: “So proud, he was amazing. Brilliant night, so happy it’s done.”
Their wedding is 10 days away.
Catterall: “Feeling good, it’s a weird feeling, it’s bittersweet. I thought I won two years ago.
“Josh is a tough competitor, but we move on. A bit of downtime, then we get married next week.
“I’ll have to watch it back, I felt in control, I still felt I won the rounds that I took off. I felt I won the fight clearly.”
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
23:48 , Alex Pattle
Hearn: “I think the judges’ scorecards were too wide, but the right man won. Listen, I love Scotland, but justice was served tonight.
“But he should have the belts around his waist.
“That was a tremendous battle. Jack boxed beautifully at times.
“He deserves to be world champion, that’s got to be the focus, I’d love to see this guy challenge for – and rightfully win – a world title.”
Bob Arum gets on the mic and says the scorecards are an “absolute disgrace”. This is embarrassing from the American.
Taylor: “Fair play to Jack, he won the fight. Let’s do the third one.”
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
23:45 , Alex Pattle
Catterall: “It’s bittersweet tonight. No world titles, [but] I won the fight. We can close that chapter with Josh Taylor.
“Listen, I believe I won the fight, I took more risks this time. Josh is an elite operator.
“I boxed smart. Even in the second half of the fight, the rounds when I was more reserved, I was controlling the pace.
“It was a fight of two halves, but I still believe: The rounds that I won, I won clearly.
“None of it’s personal, we’ve shared 24 rounds together now, so respect to Josh.”
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
23:40 , Alex Pattle
Indy Sport has it 116-112 in Catterall’s favour. 115-113 would be reasonable, too...
Jack Catterall def. Josh Taylor via unanimous decision (117-111, 117-111, 116-113)
Justice for Catterall after the controversial first fight? I’d say so.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:38 , Alex Pattle
Round 12
The crowd is on its feet. Taylor and Catterall touch gloves in respect. Nice jabs by Catterall.
Taylor steps in with a lead hook, but Catterall blocks most of it. Taylor steps in with a jab, but he’s tagged on the way in.
Taylor is chasing Catterall but not landing much of note. Decent uppercut to the body by the Scot now, however.
Catterall with a great flurry now! He has Taylor covering up to the body. Snapping jabs upstairs now, as Taylor’s head is rocked back.
Nice uppercut by Taylor! Brilliant counter combination by Catterall! He does that so well, with such pace.
Spearing jabs by Taylor. Both men land a few shots each before the bell!
Another very entertaining round, but Catterall surely did enough in that round – and in the fight overall. Taylor is held aloft by one of his teammates, which Catterall scoffs at...
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:34 , Alex Pattle
Round 11
Into the final two rounds. Taylor walks onto a jab. A right hook just about lands for Taylor, and another.
Great combination from Taylor, who sneaks in an uppercut to the body and a hook to the head.
The referee warns both fighters again. OH!! Taylor walks onto a huge left hook! And Catterall lands another!
Taylor holds, and the pair tumble to the mat together, just as in their first fight!
They’re back up, and there’s one minute left... Another hard left hand by Catterall!! He beckons Taylor on!
Taylor was winning that round well, but Catterall stole it with those damaging moments!
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:30 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Referee Kevin Parker warns both fighters at the start of this frame. There have been a few clashes of heads so far.
Taylor starts aggressively, but Catterall gets back to his jab to maintain some momentum. A clinch ensues, and Taylor is the busier fighter at close range.
Taylor steps in with a solid body jab. A short one-two just about lands for Taylor. Cross is on point for Catterall.
Taylor with a pair of nice jabs, then Catterall responds in kind. Taylor attacks the body then the head. He’s backing up Catterall.
A VERY close round.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 10-9 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:26 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
We have Catterall 5-3 up, but you could make an argument for 4-4.
Brilliant series of jabs by Catterall to start this round. He lands about five in a row. Mean cross by Taylor, and Catterall fires back then holds.
Oh! Catterall with more jabs and a pair of brutal crosses, right on the jaw of Taylor!
Taylor is the one slowing down slightly now... until he lands a hook to the body then some teasing jabs upstairs.
More good work from Taylor, but again Catterall scores with a sequence of straight punches – jabs and crosses, as Taylor’s defence deserts him.
Taylor backs up Catterall, who is content to hold for a while. A heavy cluster of shots from Catterall in the final seconds!
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:22 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
This is a much better fight than the first clash already. Cleaner work from both men.
Both boxers land numerous clean punches in a brutal start to this eighth frame. It’s tit for tat, but Taylor is just landing with a bit more frequency...
He skims a right hook off Catterall’s head, but the Englishman replies quickly. Stern jab by Taylor, then a right hook.
Catterall looks to be tiring somewhat. He can’t get Taylor off him. Catterall does land a great uppercut, but Taylor is unfazed and scores right after!
Very nice flurry from Catterall, and both men land again! What a round! Taylor is coming on strong, it seems... The rivals touch gloves on the bell.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 10-9 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:18 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
So, as we enter the second half of the fight, we have Catterall 5-1 up. You could have it 4-2 in his favour, reasonably.
Catterall jabs well to the body. Short right hook lands for Taylor, then a straight. Catterall misses with a long cross.
Taylor’s mouth looks swollen as well as his right eye. And yet? You guessed it, he presses forward. Catterall leans into a right uppercut.
Harsh right hook to the body by Taylor, and another. Left hook to the midriff now, as Taylor builds with those body attacks.
Oh! Nice cross to the jaw by Catterall. Another dig to the body from Taylor. He really stepped into that one.
Grazing cross now by the Scot, and a clean jab. Left hook up top by Taylor! This is so much better from the former undisputed champion!
Indy Sport score: Taylor 10-9 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:14 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Lovely uppercut and hook by Catterall. Taylor’s defence is not up to scratch so far, but he continues to fight on the front foot.
Snapping jab by Catterall, whose head movement allows him to evade Taylor’s own jabs. More “Chorley” chants.
A right hand just about lands for Taylor, but Catterall comes back with a piercing jab. Taylor’s face looks a bit swollen; his right eye doesn’t look great.
Left hook on point for Catterall. Taylor hops in with a lead right hook but misses. CLEAN one-two by Catterall!
He follows up with more shots including a slew of jabs, and Taylor just can’t keep them out.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:10 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Catterall with solid jabs early in this round, and great head movement. Still, Taylor marches forward.
Two jabs to the body by Catterall, now four upstairs! Clinical. A one-two has Taylor retreating!
Catterall is stalking him... Hard jab by Taylor, though, as the Scot comes forward and arrests a bit of momentum.
Right hook lands for Taylor, then a jab. Hard right hook to the body.
It’s a good response by Taylor, but another very good round for Catterall, who out-jabs the Scot and pours on CLEAN straights to the head in the final seconds!!
Taylor was almost falling over the ropes there!
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:06 , Alex Pattle
Round four
Catterall leans back then lands a lovely counter flurry, capped off with a left hook around Taylor’s guard.
Catterall leans into a hard right from Taylor, but the Englishman comes back with spearing jabs.
Taylor jabs to the body now, and again. Catterall with a jab upstairs. Short right uppercut lands for Taylor.
Taylor walks onto an overhand by Catterall, who soon adds a left hook!
Catterall with another promising flurry to end the round. Taylor nods at him as the bell sounds.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
23:02 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Another clash of heads. Taylor has a welt over his right eye. Stiff jab by Catterall.
Catterall blocks an uppercut and fires back with an overhand, which just about lands. Long left hook to the body by Taylor.
OH! Taylor appears to land well, but Catterall fires back with power, and both men seem to be on unsteady feet! What a moment! Taylor lands again, with volume!
The pace slows briefly, and Taylor lands a couple of brutal left hands to the body. He has Catterall backing up. Taylor is warned for a clear punch to the back of the head.
Catterall jabs to the body. Hard left cross by the home fighter.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 10-9 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
22:57 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Taylor takes the centre of the ring. He throws a series of feints then a left hook to the body. His head is snapped back by a jab.
Catterall then flicks out a variety of shots, and Taylor felt a couple of those... More “Chorley” chants. The jab isn’t quite accurate enough for Taylor yet.
Catterall leans into a right hook, though. Some grappling follows. The super-lightweights separate, and Taylor does find the jab now. Catterall with tidy jabs of his own, though.
Another left hook to the body by Taylor. There’s a clash of heads, and the action is paused.
Back under way, and Catterall is jabbing well again. Immense pressure from Taylor, and Catterall is almost leaning through the ropes to evade the offence.
But Catterall lands a hook and uppercut after moving into space! Uppercut to the body by Catterall.
Better work from Taylor in that round, but Catterall stings him in the final seconds.
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main event
22:53 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand southpaw. Catterall presses forward, landing a few jabs and a one-two. That was clean.
Taylor with his own jab, but it’s just wide of the mark. Louuuuuuuud “Chorley” chants, it sounds like, in support of Catterall.
Now Taylor comes forward. Lots of feints from the Scot. He hooks to the body. Catterall jabs his way off the ropes.
Catterall almost trips while coming forward, then wobbles Taylor a little bit with a left hook...
More jabs from both men. Clean cross from Catterall! Snapping jab now by the Englishman.
A clinch ensues. Taylor with a body uppercut. They separate, and both men land jabs. Another one-two by Catterall now.
That’s a good first round by Catterall. Let’s score this one, shall we?
Indy Sport score: Taylor 9-10 Catterall.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:45 , Alex Pattle
Catterall emerges to a couple of classics: “Stand By Me” and “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher”.
Taylor is out next, to the sounds “Cigarettes And Alcohol” then “Born Slippy”.
Both men are in the ring. It’s hard to believe it’s been over TWO years since they last fought, and that it’s taken THIS long for them to share a ring again...
AND THERE’S THE FIRST BELL! HERE, WE, GO!
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:25 , Alex Pattle
One fight left tonight, and it’s the big one: Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall 2, in front of a sold-out, 11,000-strong crowd in Leeds.
The ring walks are under way! While they play out, some light reading for you...
I was ringside at the first fight in Glasgow in February 2022, and ahead of tonight’s main event, I rewatched that bout (twice!) and scored it round by round.
I watched it with the sound off to avoid being swayed by crowd reactions and commentary. Here’s how I had it:
Rescoring a ‘robbery’: Taylor vs Catterall 1, round by round
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
22:13 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
Zorro with a short, stabbing right cross. A fair bit of grappling ensues.
Clarke shoots a jab. Both men land good uppercuts at close range. More clinching.
They separate, and Clarke FLOORS Zorro with the final punch of the round!! A right cross puts him down against the ropes!
Zorro is given a count as the bell sounds... but he can’t beat it! Clarke gets the stoppage and the vacant British cruiserweight belt!
Cheavon Clarke def. Ellis Zorro via eighth-round KO (2:59)
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
22:09 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Into the second half of this fight. Clarke steps in and lands a right hook, but there’s not a ton of menace on it.
Short jab for Clarke now. Another, this one to the body. Zorro lands two left hooks at close range – to the head then to the body.
Clarke with a short, stiff left hook upstairs.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
22:04 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Teasing jabs by Zorro, but he’s caught out by a clean cross from Clarke, who picked his moment well.
Zorro with a lead left hook and right cross, but neither lands fully.
The round ends with a brief firefight, as both men land straight punches.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
22:01 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Another clinch. After the pair separate, Zorro just about slides a cross past Clarke’s guard.
Same shot from Zorro again, and this time it lands stiff!
Clarke is warned for leading with his head in another clinch. He almost seemed to be grinding it against Zorro’s chin.
Solid jab upstairs from Clarke now. More holding. Zorro digs in a right hand to the head.
Again the fighters separate, and both just miss with their final attacks of the round – a hook by Clarke and an uppercut by Zorro.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
21:56 , Alex Pattle
Round four
More grappling to start this frame. The cruiserweights separate, and Clarke parries a couple of jabs.
Now Clarke lands to the body. Another body attack, as he steps in, before he throws a left hook to the head. Nice idea.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
21:52 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Zorro takes the centre of the ring. He flicks out a pair of jabs, alternating between the head and body.
Zorro tries the step-back uppercut again, but he misses this time.
Another uppercut effort by Zorro, this one wilder and also off-target.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
21:48 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Zorro steps back and walks Clarke onto a rear uppercut. Lovely work.
A bit of grappling ensues, before the cruiserweights separate. A right cross grazes the side of Zorro’s head.
Another right cross just about lands for Clarke. Zorro has to be careful of that shot...
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
21:45 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. The cruiserweights grapple early on, with each boxer unloading body shots.
Clarke sneaks in a hard uppercut to the head. Nice jab now. Zorro comes back with his own jab then a well-timed counter cross.
Clarke rolls under a jab, but Zorro triples the shot and connects with the second and third efforts.
Clarke jabs to the body then misses with a wild overhand right.
Zorro will be happy to have gotten through the round after his early KO loss in December. That said, he wasn’t fighting like a man scared just now.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Cheavon Clarke vs Ellis Zorro
21:30 , Alex Pattle
Now it’s time for the chief support bout...
Cheavon Clarke faces Ellis Zorro for the vacant British cruiserweight title!
Clarke, 33, is 8-0 (6 KOs), while Zorro, 31, is 17-1 (7 KOs).
Zorro is from Kent but fighting out of London, while Clarke was born in Jamaica but is fighting out of Kent!
Zorro is aiming to bounce back from his first pro loss – a brutal, first-round knockout by Jai Opetaia in December.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:20 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
A right hook is on point for Donovan, who covers up as Ritson retaliates.
A short cross gets through for Ritson, but he falls onto the ropes as Donovan ramps up the pressure again!
And the ref, Howard Foster, steps in! Donovan with a stoppage win in the penultimate round!!
Paddy Donovan def. Lewis Ritson via ninth-round TKO (0:32)
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:19 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
Right uppercut lands for Ritson, but Donovan seems unfazed. The Irishman is not backing up as much as in previous rounds; he’s holding his ground and firing back each time Ritson lands.
Both boxers are connecting with clean shots, simultaneously at times. Now it’s Ritson who backs up! Donovan is landing spiteful hooks and uppercuts!
Ritson throws back with a left hook, but Donovan is finding his rhythm! He’s landing with both hands, varying his offence, getting through with straights.
Ritson is still landing, and there’s a danger that Donovan gets caught out, but this more aggressive approach is undoubtedly working for the Irishman.
Ritson looks exhausted, breathing heavily. He’s leaning on the ropes then leaning on Donovan.
Donovan will reach the ninth round for the first time in his career.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:15 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Jab and lead uppercut by Donovan. Ritson with a stinging cross. Left hook lands for Donovan.
Another strong uppercut by Donovan. It’s still the right hand, but it comes from further away this time, with the Irishman backed against the ropes and squaring his feet.
Grazing right hook by Donovan, who is keeping that lead hand out in front of him to distract Ritson.
Really promising end to the round by Donovan, who lands a couple of flurries.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:10 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Oh! Donovan goes down, but it’s ruled a trip – and rightly so. The Irishman stumbled while trying to escape off the ropes, amid this sustained pressure from Ritson.
Donovan is back up and landing hooks with both hands! Now a harsh right hook to the body by Ritson.
Long jab lands for Ritson. The boxers clash heads somewhat in a messy clinch.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:07 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Into round five of 10. Donovan with teasing straights and hooks. One uppercut sneaks through now, as Ritson tries to keep a high guard.
Ritson lunges in with a straight right, but there’s not much on it. The welterweights briefly grapple, then both land as they separate.
Donovan targets the body then leans back to narrowly avoid a jab. Good right hook by Donovan.
More grappling, and Ritson stumbles to a knee. He’s back up and pressuring Donovan, but he misses with a left hook.
Decent step-in right by Ritson now. His next effort misses, however, as Donovan rolls under the shot.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
21:03 , Alex Pattle
Round four
More of the same in this round. Donovan with another slick uppercut to end the frame; it’s with the lead hand this time.
The arena is starting to buzz now in anticipation of the main event. You can hear the noise increasing.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
20:58 , Alex Pattle
Round three
The pattern of the fight continues. Ritson is applying near-constant pressure, while Donovan is also staying active, trying to ensure he does not fight too reactively.
Ritson lands a right to the body. Donovan with a southpaw cross to the midriff.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
20:55 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Both men land straight shots simultaneously. Donovan’s seems to do the greater damage.
Still, Ritson marches forward, fighting on the front foot. Donovan with lots of head movement.
And a great rear uppercut by the Irish southpaw just before the bell.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
20:47 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Here we go. Ritson stands orthodox, Donovan is southpaw. Ritson presses forward early.
Donovan relies on an active jab to deter Ritson, who eventually connects with a short, step-in cross.
Donovan just misses with a quick uppercut attempt, but he lands a decent left hook. Both men overshoot on certain punches.
The rear uppercut lands for Donovan this time, nice work.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Ritson
20:40 , Alex Pattle
Next up is a welterweight clash between Ireland’s Paddy Donovan and Newcastle’s Lewis Ritson.
Donovan, 25, is 13-0 (10 KOs), while 30-year-old Ritson has a record of 23-3 (13 KOs).
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:24 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Final round. Patera comes forward but is punished with a jab. Another jab, this one to the body of Patera.
Patera lands a one-two to the chest of Cully, who is backed up to the ropes, but the Irishman responds in kind. Cully then skips into space.
Patera maintains the pressure and lands a grazing uppercut. Hard right hand to the body now. Cully appears to be bleeding a bit from the nose, like Patera.
Cully is still the more accurate man at the moment.
We’ll go to the scorecards...
Gary Cully def. Francesco Patera via unanimous decision (98-92, 96-94, 96-94)
The right result! Patera started well and had his moments, but Cully was the smoother and more effective operator across 10 rounds.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:21 , Alex Pattle
Round nine
Penultimate round. The lightweights grapple briefly.
They separate, and Cully does well to land a mix of straights and hooks from range.
Patera is chasing Cully but getting tagged with jabs and teasing crosses.
A left hook seems to land clean for Patera, but Cully takes it well!
Sharp jab by Cully. He’s done well to come forward when Patera has started to get comfortable pressuring; Cully has ensured it’s not just one-way traffic in that realm.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:17 , Alex Pattle
Round eight
Cully feints some level changes then just about lands a jab upstairs.
Another big swing and a miss by Patera on the right hook. But he lands a tidy cross now! Smarter stuff from the Italian.
Cully comes forward, gently backing up Patera and varying his offence.
Patera seems to be bleeding from around his nose. Blood is trickling down to his mouth.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:13 , Alex Pattle
Round seven
Cully with a sneaky left hand to the body and a harsh right hook to the head.
Patera is still pressing forward. As in the last round, he’s missing with some reckless swings, but his overall gameplan isn’t a bad one; he’s seemingly trying to fatigue Cully with body shots and pressure, hoping that the Irishman will eventually be more vulnerable to one of those big shots.
Patera connects with a left hook as he backs up Cully to the ropes. And again! Good work.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:09 , Alex Pattle
Round six
Into the second half of this fight.
Cully bounces around, trying to stay mobile. Patera applies pressure, burrowing hooks into the midriff of Cully – a right and a left.
Cully with a sharp jab and a smart left hook, as Patera walks onto those shots a bit naively. The Italian then wings a right hook and misses; he reallllly loaded up on that punch...
Cully pops back his opponent’s head with a jab. Clever uppercut by the Irishman in close. And a tidy jab from Cully again, as Patera misses with more wild swings.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:04 , Alex Pattle
Round five
It could well be two rounds apiece.
Patera presses forward and stays active, attacking the body with left hooks. Cully puts his jab to good use.
Now the Irishman adds some hooks – one off each wing – to keep Patera guessing.
Cully loads up on an uppercut but misses the mark, and Patera seizes the opening, landing a hard left hand at point-blank range.
Both men miss in a bit of a scrappy spell. Patera’s output is looking a little sloppy now.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
20:00 , Alex Pattle
Round four
Cully’s timing has improved with each round. He’s keeping his lead hand active as well, making life harder for Patera, who walks onto a jab now.
Decent effort by Patera, though, as he backs up Cully and lands a right hook. Cully gets back into space and puts together a couple of combinations, varying his shots nicely.
Lovely cross by Cully! He slipped a straight shot and timed his own very well. Uppercuts and hooks follow.
Strong left hook by Patera, however, and Cully looked like he felt that.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
19:57 , Alex Pattle
Round three
We could be looking at 19-19, or 20-18 to Patera in my opinion. Eight more rounds scheduled, including this one.
Another clean cross to the mid-section by the Italian. Cully finds a right hook, curling it around Patera’s guard.
Both men let their hands go in a promising moment for Cully, and the most active spell for the two fighters so far.
Long left hook by Patera, catching Cully at range. Patera is sporting a bit of swelling under his left eye, though.
Step-in jab to the body of Cully, then two left hooks – one to the body, one to the head. Good uppercuts by Cully in response.
Better work from the Irishman overall.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
19:53 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Cully’s coach admits that the “Diva” might have lost that round.
Decent right hook by Cully, but there’s not much venom on it. Patera replies with greater volume, targeting the body then head.
Patera times a jab nicely, stinging Cully somewhat. Cully looks to fire back with straight shots, but Patera’s guard is largely holding up.
Cully with some good headshots now – straights and hooks – as Patera slows down slightly.
Lovely flurry from Cully! He starts at the body and finishes with a quick right hook to the head. Better from the Irishman, good speed there.
Hard cross to the body by Patera to end the round.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
19:49 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Cully stands southpaw, Patera is orthodox. Patera presses forward, while Cully peppers his guard with jabs.
Cully adds some extra shots now, including teasing lead hooks around the guard. Nothing too powerful from the Irishman yet.
We get a bit of grappling and fighting at close range. The boxers separate, and Patera unloads big shots as Cully covers up against the ropes before circling away.
Head feints from Cully now, but Patera isn’t biting. The Italian eventually skips forward, though, before letting his hands go again. Left hook to the body by Patera, then a right cross.
Decent parry by Cully, but Patera digs into the body again at close range.
Cully is being a little too reactive. He’s already sporting some redness around his left eye.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Gary Cully vs Francesco Patera
19:44 , Alex Pattle
Right, then! Here we go. Irish lightweight Gary Cully boxes Francesco Patera.
Cully (17-1, 10 KOs) is a highly-rated talent at 28, but he had to bounce back in November after suffering his first pro loss in May.
On the undercard of Katie Taylor’s rematch win over Chantelle Cameron in Dublin, Cully beat Reece Mould on the scorecards to get back on track.
Next up for him is 31-year-old Patera (29-4, 11 KOs). Patera is Italian but fights out of Belgium.
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall LIVE: Scorecards
00:22 , Alex Pattle
