Josh Taylor Cites Politics for Him Facing Jose Zepeda Instead of Jack Catterall
Super lightweight boxer Jack “El Gato” Catterall (26-1, 13 KO’s) is yelling from the roof tops that he wants his rematch with unified 140-pound champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor (19-0, 13 KO’s). In his last in-ring duel, Catterall was defeated by the then undisputed by way of split decision. A large segment of the public and boxing insiders felt as though El Gato was actually the better man on the night.
Taylor has heard Catterall’s clamoring, as well as the boxing populace, for another shot at him. To this urging the unified champion assures that he will face El Gato again. He even went so far as to say that the only reason that he is lingering in the division is to dance with Catterall. Yet, that seems a curious statement because Taylor is also telling Catterall that he must wait for his shot. As he explained to the National, Taylor will first settle his obligation to face WBC mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda.
“It would have been Jack before Zepeda if it could have been worked out, without the boxing politics and mandatories getting in the way. I’d rather be fighting Jack next but Zepeda is a big fight and people who are talking it down are people who don’t know the business. He’s a top-level fighter.”
WHATS THE DEAL?!
There is no doubt that Jose Zepeda is a rough customer with exceptional skills as he is ranked #1 (WBC) and #5 (WBO). The gritty Californian even earned 3King Boxing’s 2020 Knock out of the Year honors for brutally stopping Ivan Baranchynk. Yet, it must be asked, if the only reason that he is remaining in the division is to face Catterall, what’s the point in fighting a mandatory?
Taylor has already dropped his WBA title. If he is true to his word though, The Tartan Tornado will leave 140 after his dustup with Catterall. So why not get straight to it? Perhaps there is a great deal more going on behind the scenes, but for right now it does seem like Taylor is in no rush to dance with El Gato one more time.
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By: Bakari Simpson
