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The WBO interim world title is on the road for Catterall and Barboza (Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing) An enormous struggle heads the cardboard on the Co-op Dwell Area in Manchester this Saturday, as Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr conflict for the vacant WBO interim tremendous light-weight title, that doubles up as a closing eliminator for WBO champion Teofimo Lopez’s crown.
Matchroom promote Catterall vs Barboza, and DAZN televise dwell.
Catterall (30-1, 13 KOs) noticed his inventory rise in defeat in February 2022, and it was a controversial one as Josh Taylor retained his unified world title with a contentious cut up determination win in Glasgow.
From there, the Chorley man has kicked on, and after outscoring Darragh Foley, he took a transparent factors win over former world champion Jorge Linares to spherical off 2023.
After a very long time ready for the Taylor rematch, Catterall lastly received his want final Could, and dominated towards the lacklustre Scot, profitable broadly on the playing cards. ‘El Gato’ stepped up in school in his most up-to-date struggle, getting off the canvas towards Regis Prograis, after which dropping the American twice on the way in which to a useful unanimous win.
Catterall scored an excellent win towards Prograis (Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson )
Barboza Jr (31-0, 11 KOs) is subsequent for Catterall, and the Californian has been rigorously matched in a profession that has but to really take off. The 33-year-old did get pleasure from an excellent 2024 although, and after forcing Xolisani Ndongeni to retire after eight rounds in January, he took a cut up determination towards Sean McComb three months later.
Barboza took an enormous step up for his final project, taking an in depth win over ten rounds towards former unified world champion, Jose Carlos Ramirez in Riyadh final November.
Barboza ought to present a troublesome check in Manchester (Picture Credit score: Mikey Williams / High Rank by way of Getty Photos)
Prediction: Catterall is in touching distance of one other world title shot, and he may have to beat some testing moments towards Barboza. The American has by no means been previous ten rounds, and this might play into Catterall’s fingers, and I again Catterall to take a factors win to maneuver nearer to the world title belt that he craves.
3 weeks to go #CatterallBarboza pic.twitter.com/qZCtZn0ozc
Bellotti and Gomez lastly settle the rating
The British and Commonwealth tremendous featherweight titles are on the road on the undercard, as Reece Bellotti (19-5, 14 KOs) defends towards Michael Gomez Jr (21-1, 6 KOs).
The 2 ought to have met final October, however Gomez needed to pull out with simply minutes till the opening bell as a consequence of sickness.
🗣️ ‘He’s swallowed it!”
Bellotti is rejuvenated after 4 instances in 5 outings between 2018 and 2021, and he’s on a run of 5 straight wins, taking the vacant Commonwealth crown by retiring Aqib Fiaz after eight in October final 12 months, and he added the British belt by taking a factors win over Liam Dillon 4 months later. ‘Bomber’ was final seen in July, broadly outscoring Levi Giles.
Gomez can be in good type, profitable his final dozen since dropping to Henry Janes in March 2019, and he is available in because the English champion, final defending in April, halting Kane Baker in six.
Gomez produced a surprising end over Kane Baker. (Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson, Matchroom)
Prediction: It is a cracking wanting commerce struggle, and I lean in direction of the youthful Gomez to observe in his dad’s footsteps, and take the title by way of very shut determination.
Barrett returns towards Dickens & McCormack faces Davies
A crossroads conflict on the similar weight ought to see Zelfa Barrett (31-2, 17 KOs) dwell to struggle one other day, and the previous world title challenger can rating a stoppage win towards James ‘Jazza’ Dickens (34-5, 14 KOs), a former IBO champion at featherweight. It’s set for ten.
Barrett’s profession has stalled after his win over Gill (Picture Credit score: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing)
One other ten rounder ought to see former Olympian Pat McCormack (6-0, KO4) take an inside schedule victory towards Robbie Davies Jr (24-5, 15 KOs) of their welterweight assembly.
Additional undercard preview
In six rounders, William Crolla (6-0, 5 KOs) can take one other early win, this time towards Ayoub Zakari (5-7-1, 0 KOs) at tremendous welterweight, and at light-weight, Aqib Fiaz (12-1, 1 KO) can shake off the rust in a factors success towards Lydon Chircop (7-2, 4 KOs). Mild heavyweight debutant Conner Tudsbury can start skilled life with a stoppage win towards Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (7-5, 5 KOs).
The one 4 rounder comes at featherweight, the place Alfie Middlemiss (1-0, 0 KOs) ought to run out a factors winner over Caine Singh (1-5-2, 0 KOs).
