Jack Catterall’s promoter Eddie Hearn hopes his WBO light welterweight title eliminator against Arnold Barboza Jr. will be for the full belt when they meet on February 15 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
Will Teofimo leave?
Matchroom promoter Hearn is tipping WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez to vacate his title to move up to 147 to go after bigger fights, possibly against IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Whether that happens or not, it still doesn’t work in Hearn’s favor because Catterall (30-1, 13 KOs) can’t get past the more talented Barboza Jr. (31-0, 11 KOs) on February 15th.
The only thing working in Catterall’s favor for this fight is that it’s in England’s neck of the woods, which means he could win a decision he didn’t rate. If the rounds are close, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were given to Catterall.
Barboza Jr. To ruin Hearn’s vision
Barboza Jr. he is the far better talent of the two and figures to win this fight based on his offensive prowess. Catterall is like a British version of Shakur Stevenson, an imperfect imitation of the real thing. Jack has the same precise moves as Shakur, but without the speed, reflexes and ring IQ.
“It’s a final eliminator for the WBO world title – and hopefully it could also be for the world title if Teofimo Lopez walks away. Jack must already be an undisputed world champion” said Hearn. “And there’s no better way than to show that he’s earned his place at the top by beating Arnold Barboza Jr in what is a fantastic fight in the 140 lbs division.”
Hearn’s comment about how Catterall should be the undisputed world champion is already due to his controversial loss to Josh Taylor on February 26, 2022. Hearn is still bellyaching about that loss, but it wasn’t controversial. Taylor landed the hardest shots all night and was the one on the attack.
If Catterall wanted to win, he should have stayed in the pocket instead of using his three-foot-back Shakur-esque approach every time Taylor showed up. It was so boring to watch, and it was obvious that Catterall was trying to get a quick win. The judges didn’t have it.
Catterall was unwatchable in his recent fight against Regis Prograis on October 26 in Manchester. The old warrior, Prograis, dropped Catterall in the fifth and had him on a rampage throughout the 12-round contest.
The judges gave Catterall a 12-round unanimous decision, but it was like watching one of Shakur’s fights. So boring. If the contest had been held in the United States, the fans would have kicked Catterall out of the arena that night. You have to be able to entertain yourself in this era.
Fighters like Shakur and Catterall are relics of the past and don’t belong. Hearn will have a lot of work on his hands trying to promote the Catterall-Barboza Jr. event. on the 15th of February.
