Jack Catterall was relieved Ekow Essuman was awarded victory over Josh Taylor, even though his next opponent’s success cost him a lucrative third fight with his greatest rival.
Catterall and Essuman fight on Saturday at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of the middleweight rematch between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn.
They do so in Catterall’s second fight at welterweight and, equally relevantly, in the 32 year old’s first fight since his hiring Derek “Bozy” Ennis after separating from his long-term trainer Jamie Moore.
It is the WBO title held by Brian Norman Jnr, who on November 22 fights Devin Haney, Catterall is prioritising, and to that end he requires victory over his fellow Briton Essuman, 36.
It was in Glasgow in May when Essuman unexpectedly defeated Scotland’s Taylor so close to his home, since when Taylor – one of Britain’s most decorated ever fighters – has retired from the ring.
Had Taylor won that night a third fight with Catterall – Taylor was controversially awarded victory in their first, also in Scotland; Catterall won their second – would have remained likely and lucrative for both, but instead of being disappointed Catterall was relieved that Essuman didn’t suffer the same injustice he believed he was a victim of, and swiftly and readily agreed to fight him instead.
“From the opening rounds – I thought Taylor boxed well for three or four rounds,” Catterall told BoxingScene. “He had a fast start and I thought he was gonna go on and win the fight. Ekow doubled down and outworked him, and then took over the fight and won it. I didn’t think it was spectacular.
“I congratulated him. It was a big opportunity up there in Scotland, which I’ve had a taste of before – being the away fighter – it was nice to see him have that success.
“After the second fight [between me and Taylor], we saw the performances. I beat him; Teo[fimo Lopez] beat him; I beat him again. There was a conversation for a trilogy, but I didn’t get me hopes up on it. The goal is the world titles. [Taylor] didn’t have any at that stage, so we moved on from that. It was nice to see Ekow have his night up in Scotland and get the victory.
“I’m not getting caught up in future plans. It’s a big fight for me. It’s a big opportunity. We all understand the changes in boxing, and what can be put on the table. You’ve got to remain focused on the job at hand, but also the carrot dangling is what can come after it, which is more big fights. But nothing else matters, other than November 15th.”
Essuman demonstrated against Taylor that he possesses the potential to truly test Catterall’s new relationship with the Philadelphia-based, in-demand Ennis, and asked if that was something of which he was wary, Catterall responded: “I’m 32. There’s no time for tune-up fights or settling in fights. I’m experienced enough; I can get my way around a ring; I know what’s in front of me. I wouldn’t take this fight if I weren’t confident in the job. It’s a great fight – a domestic fight – which we love, and stylistically I think it works well.
“From my understanding – from watching him fight; from sharing the ring with him – I don’t see it being an issue. The process was lock myself away; train hard; sacrifice, and then get out to Tottenham and put a performance on.
“I’m not going to throw shade on Ekow Essuman. There’s stuff we’ve seen that we can exploit. I know he’ll be preparing hard; he’ll be training well; it’s a big opportunity for both of us to be [on] an amazing show.
“I don’t put myself on a pedestal. I know a great victory here will put me one step closer to a world title, and that’s the process I’m looking for. I believe it’s going to be an eliminator for the title. I know what the future can look like.
“I locked meself away. It’s a great fight. I’m fighting a great fighter who had a career-best win last time out against Josh Taylor up at welterweight. Stylistically, this fight’s going to gel well. Ekow seems like a decent enough fella. Tough; he’ll come forward; he’s got a great engine. I sparred him a couple of times before his last fight; we done two sparring sessions. That being said, we don’t read too much into sparring. I’m focused on what I’ve got to do, and I believe I’m going to be primed and ready to beat him in good fashion.”
That Saturday’s promotion, like that featuring Norman Jnr-Haney, is being led by The Ring potentially eases Catterall’s path to the 147lbs title fight he is so desperate for.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “Massive bill. I boxed in a stadium [Elland Road] before on a Josh Warrington card in Leeds and that was a great experience – this is definitely gonna top it. Huge grudge match – rematch – with Benn and Eubank, so to be co-main event to this on a Riyadh card, it’s an opportunity I’m grateful for and I’m taking it with both hands.”
