The highly-anticipated rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall is fast approaching, as these arch-rivals prepare to face off once again. Their initial encounter saw Taylor enter the ring as the undisputed light welterweight champion, holding the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBF, and The Ring titles. The fight, which took place at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 26, 2022, ended with Taylor winning via a split decision (114-111, 113-112, 112-113) after a full 12 rounds, allowing him to retain his undisputed status.
However, the decision was met with significant controversy. Many in the combat sports community believed that Catterall, who had knocked Taylor down in the eighth round and seemed to out-box him for most of the fight, deserved the victory. The contentious nature of the decision has fueled the anticipation for their rematch.
Following the first fight, Taylor vacated most of his titles, citing the financial burden of paying sanctioning fees for each belt. In his next bout, he defended his remaining WBO and The Ring titles against Teofimo Lopez in June 2023, where he suffered a defeat and lost those belts as well. Taylor has also faced various injury issues during this period.
Jack Catterall, after his controversial loss to Taylor, secured unanimous decision victories against Darragh Foley in May 2023 and Jorge Linares in October 2023. The stage is now set for Catterall and Taylor’s rematch, which, while not for any titles this time, carries immense significance due to the unresolved nature of their previous encounter. This grudge match is scheduled to take place at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, on May 25, 2024.
Regarding their entrances in the 2022 fight, Jack Catterall entered first to the song ‘Lift Off’ by Jay-Z and Kanye West, featuring Beyonce, a track known for its energetic vibes. His entrance was met with boos from the Scottish crowd, as the fight took place on Taylor’s home ground. For his recent fight against Jorge Linares, Catterall was accompanied by British DJ Tom Zanetti, who performed a remix of his tracks.
Josh Taylor, hailing from Scotland, usually walks out to ‘Flower of Scotland,’ an unofficial national anthem. For his first fight against Catterall, Taylor combined the progressive house song ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless with a rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland,’ creating a memorable and spirited entrance reflective of his Scottish heritage.
