Originally scheduled to headline the first ever boxing card at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester last August, it will now be the fourth event (after Catterall vs. Prograis last year and Till vs. Taylor and Chisora vs. Wallin so far in 2025). At stake will be the vacant WBO interim world super lightweight title. Barboza is currently ranked #1 and Catterall at #2 by the WBO. Each man has 31 pro bouts. Catterall has a single loss, avenged, to Josh Taylor. Catterall's top five wins: Josh Taylor II, Regis Prograis, Jorge Linares, Ohara Davies and...idk (Nurse? McKenna? Schwarzkopf? Foley?) Barboza's top five wins: José Carlos Ramírez, José Pedraza, Danielito Zorrilla, Xolisani Ndongeni, and ...uh, I guess shot to hell Mile High Mike Alvarado? Nah, probably Alex Saucedo. Bet the farm on the Over in this one. Catterall has just thirteen stoppages in his thirty victories; Barboza just eleven in his thirty-one. The latter has been dropped twice, by Alex Saucedo and Jonathan Oseas "El Carismático" Chicas. The former has afaik only been down the once against Prograis, but is pretty cuts-prone.
The bookies have caterall the favourite, you can get 3-1 on barboza. I’m guessing the bookies are expecting some home town cooking on the cards here then?
