Catterall Believes He Can Get Hooker Revenge For Flanagan

by Terence Dooley

Chorley’s Jack Catterall (22-0, 12 KOs) beat Tyrone McKenna on points to retain the WBO's Inter-Continental light-welterweight title in Belfast last Saturday night and the 25-year-old believes that he is on well on target for a showdown with WBO holder Maurice Hooker (24-0-3, 16 early).

Hooker came to the UK last month and handily out-pointed former holder Terry Flanagan to take the title home, but the number three ranked contender feels that he is ready to meet the 28-year-old titlist, although he readily admits that he is not sure how it would go if they did fight.

Promoter Frank Warren seems to favour a meeting between Catterall and Ohara Davies, which is a route Catterall is also keen on, but he has also told the Lancashire Telegraph that he is good to go should a call come in for a world title fight.

“The fight that I want is Maurice Hooker,” Catterall said. 

“I believe he's there to be beat and he has the WBO world title, obviously the dream I have is to reach that world championship level and that's the fight hopefully even in the future I can get.”

He added: “Terry had the world title and although I don't believe he beat any great fighters in his defences, he isn't a step down.  He has been beat now so I don't know whether it would be worth fighting him, I don't know what his plans are.

“There's a lot of interest in the Ohara Davies fight.  I think a lot of people want to see me beat him but again, it has to make sense business wise.  I have to do what's best for my career, so it might be too soon to say what direction I'll go in next but certainly I'm hoping to be involved with some great fights.”

Catterall will have to wait for Hooker, as the unbeaten champion owes a mandatory defense to Alex Saucedo - which may happen the fall.

Now working under trainer Jamie Moore, Catterall will hope for a busy end to 2018 as he seeks to make up for some lost time and have a few more camps with the Salfordian.  Davies has also called for a fight between the two so it could be one to look out for in the second half of the year.

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