Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall in November

This fight was always on the cards after Catterall stepped aside to allow the unification match up. Taylor would likely move up after that one.

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Incidentally, Taylor's former stablemate Carl Frampton says that the only two fighters he would ever hang around to watch sparring (not each other) are Taylor and Catterall.

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Believe it or not, Catterrall has actually sparred both Floyd and Clenelo

LAST year Jack Catterall warmed up inside the Mayweather Boxing Club and waited patiently for his turn. He wrapped his hands, he shadow-boxed, he jumped rope. He thought about the many years he’d spent watching Floyd Mayweather on television. He thought a little about Mayweather’s upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao, one of the biggest in history, and how he, a southpaw, had been brought into the gym to mimic the style of the legendary Filipino. He thought about the sweltering heat. He thought about the countless cheerleaders congregating around the ring. It was then, while midthought, that Catterall spotted Mayweather extend an arm his way and beckon him to enter the ring. With that, the kid from Chorley was up first. He’d kickstart Mayweather’s sparring that day.

“I was more nervous then than I’ve been for any fight as a pro,” recalled Jack. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.

“We got into the gym and it felt like it was 200-degrees in there; I’d only been in Vegas a week, so I was still adapting to the altitude and the heat. Also, it felt like there were 500 people in the gym, all banging on the ring canvas and making lots of noise.

“I was nervous, but grateful for the opportunity because I knew Floyd’s career was coming to an end. Anyway, as soon as the bell goes, all the nerves leave you and you’re just doing what you do day in, day out. You’re doing what comes naturally.”

Catterall was staying in Las Vegas with his manager and trainer, Lee Beard, as well as fellow fighters Jamie Cox and Cecil McCalla. Together they decided to rent a house not far from the Mayweather Boxing Club and then use a hire car to get to and from the gymnasium. Catterall was asked to spar Mayweather twice a week for four weeks and each time he did so he grew more and more in confidence; no longer the sheepish Englishman at the back of the gym, drowned out by the whoops and hollers of the overbearing Money Team posse, Catterall started to make noise of his own.

“Floyd was very good,” he said. “You see him hitting the bag and pads and sparring other people and you think you can see things you can exploit. But it’s totally different when you’re in there with him. He’s a very good defensive fighter, he picks his punches extremely well and he’s very accurate.

“Still, you come out the gym and you feel on top of the world. It gives you a lot of confidence. That’s the level you’re looking to reach in the future.” Before heading home, Catterall, seemingly benefiting from word of mouth, gained more priceless experience when, days after finishing with Mayweather, he ventured to San Diego to work with Mexican Saul Alvarez ahead of “Canelo’s” fight with James Kirkland. Again, Catterall’s southpaw style had landed him a job. But so too had his ability and growing reputation.

“I enjoyed that more,” he said. “Both of them were amazing experiences, don’t get me wrong, but going over to San Diego and leaving the rest of them in Vegas was a great thing for me. “I got to go to the gym three times a week for two weeks and it was nice and quiet up in the hills. There were only three or four other sparring partners and ‘Canelo’s’ coaches. It was very peaceful. You’d focus on the boxing when in the gym, but once you were done, that was it. You’d just chill out for the rest of the day, eat some food and relax.”