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

Disgraceful behavior from Arum. They should never give him a mic again.

 

I was thinking the same during the fight. Catterall reminds me of early JMM in that he's a pure counter puncher and can't take the lead in fights, which is why when he had Taylor hurt he didn't go for the finish as he needs aggressive opponents to work off, if they don't lead he doesn't do much.

Luckily JMM learned to be more aggressive and lead more, Catterall will need to do the same. Fact is people including judges just give rounds for opponents walking forward and hitting air because they think that's somehow dictating the fight and so I could easily see further controversial fights in Catterall's career if he doesn't learn to be more than just a good counter puncher.

 

I thought Taylor won 5 of the last 6. I don´t see how the judges could possibly give him only 3 rounds. Dude never stood a chance.

 

It was deffo closer than the scores suggest, but think it comes down to 2 things

1) Judges would have come under fire if Catterall lost another close controversial decision - most folks have given Catterall the nod - I scored it 115-113
2) Catterall hurt Taylor more clearly than the other way round, and if he had more lead skills could potentially have stopped him at a couple of points if he could have sustained things

Regardless of whether Taylor made weight well or not, he is noticably less effective than he used to be at 140 - his frame is 147 at minimum, possibly even 154, and he should have went to 147 after Ramirez IMO.

That said, I suspect there are other issues with TTT's decline outside of just the weight, it can be seen from the multiple change in trainers IMO.

Regardless of anyone that says that Josh wasn't ever any good and it's just a weak division etc, his head movement was non-existant last night as were his reactions, and that was not the case prior to the first Cat fight - he has looked noticably less skillfull and effective from a defensive pov and his punch resistance and strength seem a lot worse also - though it's also fair to say that both Catterall and Lopez were probably always poor style matchups for him

 

What the hell were you watching? Fairly close fight but clear Catterall win

 

116-113 Catterall.

 

Agreed.
I said years ago that Ben Davison has ruined Taylor. He regressed at a rapid pace even before unifying.

 

I had it 115-113 for Jack. Though a draw is fair and I was rooting for Jack. Aggressors wins rounds. Manny Steward told Marquez he only had himself to blame for not getting the Pacquiao decisions because he was too passive.

I don't mean that a fighter can only walk forward and eat leather and hit air and win rounds. But if a guy is constantly moving forward the whole round and pressing the action and landing then he deserves the fight.

 

Are you talking about Tyson fury?

 

this is 100% true

 

Really? That’s incredibly kind.

 

Catterall 7 rounds clear. (1,4,5,6,9,10,11)
Taylor 3 rounds clear (3,7,8)
I think there were 2 even rounds which could’ve gone either way. 2nd and 12th.

Absolutely no case for a JT win or draw. None…..unless you’re a Scot.

 

Taylor has fallen off a cliff. Quick and steep decline

 

That's the narrative being pushed and I do think he's declined a bit, but I also thought he did better in this fight than he did in his last two fights, he never had Catterall in trouble in the first fight like he did in this fight. So I don't think he's anywhere near shot, maybe a little faded due to poor lifestyle choices and accumulation of damage as he's always been pretty easy to hit.

 

It is a bit of both. Taylor always had defensive holes and skill limitations, but he also isn't as quick or as sharp now as he was in his 2019 peak.

Catterall would never be an easy fight for him. Even in his prime. I think a lot of guys on here have put the prime Taylor on too high a pedestal.

Prime Taylor still dropped 4 rounds to Baranchyk and was hurt in that fight.

He was never ever a dominant fighter. In fact, the last guy I can remember him truly dominating was Ryan Martin, but Martin was a total bum.