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Undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh ‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor 18-0 (13) has labelled his mandatory challenger Jack ‘El Gato’ Catterall 26-0 (13) a “clown” ahead of their clash at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday night.
The 31-year-old Scottish southpaw will be making his first defence of all four major world title belts after he consolidated the division with a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Jose Carlos Ramirez 26-1 (17) in Las Vegas last May.
Taylor has been scathing of Catterall, claiming he is not up to his standard.
“You haven’t boxed anywhere near the level I’ve boxed at. You’ve probably not fought, or sparred with, anyone at world level at the minute,” the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF champion said at a heated face-off on Sky Sports.
“You’re not ready and you don’t really believe you can win this fight.”
Earlier this week Catterall told The Ring it would be silly for Taylor to overlook him after the champion had previously flagged a move up to welterweight to face undefeated WBO titleholder Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 38-0 (29).
“It would be very stupid and I’d think his team have not tried speaking about fights in the future with Crawford at welterweight,” said the 28-year-old southpaw from Lancashire.
“I believe Josh is experienced enough to take me as a serious threat and I am going to be that, but it’s a big fight.
“Josh has talked about his big aspirations of being a two-weight world champion and this is his big homecoming bringing all his titles back, but I’m a real threat and I’m going to show that.”
Catterall has been out of the ring for 15 months following his 10-round points win over Abderrazak Houya. He is now in the media spotlight and facing the biggest test of his 10-year pro career.
“Obviously there’s been a bit more media attention, but it’s what we’ve been working towards for the last 12 months so there’s a real buzz,” Catterall said.
“Everyone’s been in everyday, things have switched up, the training, the sparring There’s been a really good atmosphere in the gym. I think I’ve got the right team around me, keeping me on track, keeping me focused and it’s been really good.”
Catterall is a rank outsider with bookmakers, who are offering 6-1 on the challenger coming out victorious.
“I’ve visualised it plenty of times,” Catterall said. “I’ve visualised this moment probably every day for the last few months and I expect it to be hostile.
“I’ve said it in previous interviews I’ve been the away fighter, albeit on a smaller scale, over in Belfast and Leeds but it’s going to be amplified. I’ve got a lot of support coming up, but it’s up in Glasgow so they’ll be outnumbered but when the bell rings, they can’t do the fighting for him. It’s just me and him in there.”
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