Junior welterweight contender Jack Catterall remained on course for a world title shot in 2024 with a 12-round unanimous decision over veteran Jorge Linares on Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, England (formerly Echo Arena).

Catterall (28-1, 13 knockouts), The Ring’s No. 6-rated junior welterweight, beat the faded three-division titleholder by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 (twice) in the Matchroom main event that was televised on DAZN.

Catterall, a 30-year-old southpaw, largely controlled the action against the game Venezuelan. However, Linares remained dangerous landing some right hands throughout the fight.

The Brit showed a great deal of respect for Linares and looked to bait the experienced veteran in what was often a chess match. While Linares stalked Catterall in the early rounds, it was the Chorley man who picked off Linares with jabs and right hands.

Late in the fifth, Catterall hurt Linares with a left hand that had the visitor stumbling backwards into the ropes. Catterall approached and looked to put it on Linares, who covered up and used his experience to finish the round.

👀 @jack_catt93 hurts @JorgeLinares in the fifth!#CatterallLinares pic.twitter.com/sJR3Qpx6K9

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023

Catterall didn’t jump on Linares in the sixth round. He remained discipled. Linares, who had won against Kevin Mitchell and twice against Anthony Crolla on British shores, reminded everyone he was still there with some success with a couple of right hands.

Catterall, who has only lost a controversial decision to then-Ring champ Josh Taylor, looked to be breaking Linares down in the eighth, backing the Venezuelan up late in the round.

However, Catterall didn’t put his foot down and played it safe and cruised to a points decision in the final rounds.

“He’s been over here and [won] three times over here and I managed to do what I set out to do tonight and that’s get the victory,” Catterall told DAZN. “I didn’t enjoy being in there tonight, he definitely still carries that power. I boxed cautiously early on. I did catch him and should have gone [for him.] [Trainer] Jamie [Moore] and I said I didn’t need to make any silly mistakes.

“These 12 rounds with Jorge are going to put me in good stead going forwards in these big fights. He’s a legend and it was a great experience being in there with him.”

Linares joined proceedings and praised his rival and said how much he enjoyed being back in England and that he’d have to think about his future.

When asked what he wants next Catterall was in no doubt.

“[Josh] Taylor, where are you? Shithouse!” proclaimed Catterall with a wry grin on his face.

Promoter Eddie Hearn jumped on that: “Every fighter wants to win a world title but everyone wants a build up that has that narrative, that has that spite and I think Jack Catterall needs that spite. Tonight was a masterful performance but almost too much respect for Jorge Linares. There will be no respect against Josh Taylor. It’s a fight everyone wants to see. Josh is probably moving up to welterweight, catchweight is no problem. A world title is always the number one priority but that is something different, something that has to be made, there’s bad blood, there’s revenge, it’s going to fill areas. We’ll speak to Top Rank.”

It was a very disciplined performance from Catterall but when the opportunity presented itself to really make a statement he didn’t go for the jugular. That doesn’t be his style, he’s more measured and calculated and very difficult for anyone at 140-pounds to beat.

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him on
Twitter@AnsonWainwright

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