Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall II & Paddy Donovan vs. Lewis Ritson + Cully vs. Patera RBR.

Now to find a pub showing it!

 

Getting a weird feeling Caterall is going to put one of if not the final nails in the career of Taylor tonight. Think out of the ring problems and the weight have really eroded Josh a shocking amount.

 

Good luck with that - its almost an invisible channel to the majority of the population

 

Three years ago Josh Taylor left the ring as a real Scottish legend winning all 4 belts and I will be surprised if the man in there tonight is anywhere close to 60% of the man that left the ring that night.

One body, one limited career as a boxer and his lifestyle out of the ring has effectively called time on him at the top level with even mediocre fighters such as Catterall capable of beating him now. Should have had a short celebration and enjoyed himself properly when his career was over. There is no hiding place in the ring.

There are reasons Usyk for example is able to perform at the highest level at 37 years of age and the clue is living the life, dedication, and constant hunger to be the best.

Three years ago today if they fought, Taylor is a 1/20 odds on shot at the bookmakers, now Catterall is the favourite.

 

I’m not defending Taylor cause I don’t like him but comparing to likes of usyk isn’t right. Yes living the life prolongs career but biggest thing about the little guys and higher weights is the likes of usyk doesn’t need to cut massive percentages of their bodyweight to make weight which takes its toll on the body massively. Even fury who I also dislike now performing at 35 shows difference of massive water cutting to make weight between big and small guys, he hasn’t lived the life. How many people at light welter are champions etc at 35

 

Then why not just box at a comfortable weight? Why keep trying to get down to face the little men if you're not actually (as much of) a little man?

 

I was wondering that myself. Taylor has talked about going up to 147 since before the undisputed fight (nominally to face Crawford once he'd got done with 140) but for some reason it never happened. The Catterall fight has just muddled his mind, I suspect.

 

I am assuming it is because he would be more likely to give away reach and height advantages at the weight above. That can be the only reason.

It’s the old boil down to as low a weight as humanly possible so you can come into the ring with physical advantages over most of your opponents tactic.

In the back of his mind does he think he completely fails at the higher weight hence he has never moved up and probably never will move up now?

 

Taylor stopped living the life when he was 30 and the points you make above make it even more important that he dedicated himself.

The reference to Usyk was fair in terms of mentality, desire, hunger, living the life of an athlete to give him the best chance possible of staying at the top as long as possible.

 

Looking fwd to the main event obviously but also Cully vs Pattera. Pattera is decent euro lvl operater. Good test for cully one that he may not pass. His kyrponite tho is a puncher that can get inside & I don't think Patteras that guy.
He does have decent footwork tho and if he can get cully to over commit he might break him down.
Good fight tho..possibly.

 

Just about to set off to Leeds for several beers and hopefully a vintage Taylor performance. Enjoy the fight chaps. Come on Josh!

 

is it on normal TV or is it a Pay per view?

 

Knew what you meant and it's a fair comparison. Usyk and Taylor both came through high-level amateur careers and arrived at undisputed very quickly through the WBSS. That seems to have been the sliding doors moment - Taylor started changing trainer, he admitted in that BBC documentary he let things go a bit after the Ramirez fight, it's just not been quite right since. Usyk knuckled down with more of the same.

Genuinely hope he's back to something like his old self tonight, because if Catterall wins, the smug reaction from the likes of Fight Disciples (who were going as far as suggesting the first fight was bent) will be unbearable.