Junior bantamweight prospect Shera Mae Patricio, who dominated former titleholder Maribel Ramirez via unanimous decision on Saturday, already has her eyes on a belt.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom BoxingJack Catterall is still riding the crest of the wave.
The new WBA 'regular' 147lbs belt-holder is in the mix for big fights and he’s made it abundantly clear who he wants next.
Since scalping previously undefeated Shakhram Giyasov in impressive fashion on Saturday, winning on points over 12 rounds, Catterall has taken to social media to challenge the WBA’s ‘super’ champion Rolly Romero.
Now back home with his family, Chorley’s Catterall said: “It was a special week for me and it was unbelievable. I was lost for words after the fight and it’s took some time still. I’m still, what day are we on now? Tuesday. I’m still on a high. I got back late, Sunday night, midnight. The kids were straight back in the morning, nine o’clock, and it's been full on. It’s just been a whirlwind – but it’s been amazing.”
Romero’s future remains unclear, as does whether he would face the now 33-2 (14 KOs) Catterall, even if the WBA attempt to enforce it.
“I was mandatory for the WBO title or at least I was number one and I found myself in a tricky position where you’ve got Devin Haney as the WBO champion… I was mandatory for the WBO at 140 some years ago and I was chasing the belt and it went from Maurice Hooker, [Jose] Ramirez, [Josh] Taylor and I got sat out for quite a while,” Catterall explained.
“So, when I become number one in the WBO, I was told that it could be up to a year before they call the mandatory which sucks, really, and I understand it. So, then my argument was, ‘Well, I’m not prepared to sit and wait. I’m 32 now.’
“I feel like I’m coming into good form. I’ve looked after my body. So, when the [Giyasov] fight got proposed, it was a straight yes.
“He was mandatory for Rolly [Romero], battling out for a year, and we both agreed to fight within 24 hours and I’d had a bit of time to watch him. He’s boxed a couple southpaws.
“I back myself every day of the week and I knew that a victory here will definitely put me in a much greater position, whether that be for the super champion against Rolly or whether any of the other 147 fighters want to get it on.”
Catterall fights under the Matchroom banner, and another of their welterweights, Lewis Crocker, defends his IBF title in Australia against Liam Paro in Australia later this month.
Yesterday, talk surfaced of a possible Catterall-Crocker fight.
“Yeah, of course,” Catterall said, asked if he was keen to fight Crocker. “You’ve got Devin Haney, I believe he’s fighting Shakur [Stevenson], Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia, Rolly, hopefully me, Crocker, Paro. There’s a lot of great fights to be made.
“So while it’s hot now, I’ve got my piece of silverware, I’m going to keep plugging away, stay in the gym and I believe that I’ll get some more this year.”
Incidentally, three of Romero’s last four fights have been in Las Vegas. Would Catterall welcome the chance to head to Sin City?
“Of course. As amazing as Cairo was, fighting in the pyramids, once that bell goes, it doesn’t matter where the ring is,” said Catterall.
“We had an unbelievable fight week in Egypt, but listen, I’d love to fight Rolly in Manchester, but I think an American trip would be nice. It doesn’t bother me.”
For now, however, Catterall is home. He’s with his wife and kids and enjoying some much-deserved downtime. That, however, will not last long. He will be back to training next week. And he confirmed he will remain with trainer Stephen Smith, a former world class junior lightweight, moving forward.
“We’ve come back, it’s half term now, so it’s been nice just to not get up and rush about in the morning, but next week I’ll be back in the gym, I’ll be back training,” said Catterall. “The gym’s great at the moment, there’s a lot of fighters in the gym, a lot of stuff going on, and I like being in there. I like helping the fighters, sparring the kids, just doing what I can, but I’ll be out next week, I’ll be grafting.”
