A banner with three simple but very meaningful words hung above the dais where Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall sat on Thursday, discussing their super lightweight rematch on Saturday at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.
Hate runs deep, read the blood-red banner.
The rivals met in a 2022 bout in Glasgow, Scotland, under vastly different circumstances. Nine months earlier, Taylor had defeated Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas to become undisputed super lightweight champion. Catterall was 26-0 with 13 knockouts at the time, but he didn't have the belts or the world-wide respect that Taylor did.
Taylor was widely expected to win easily in what was supposed to be little more than a stay-busy fight. It seemed that Taylor may have believed that, too, and that was a problem. He was a far cry from the superior boxer who out-hustled Ramirez in Las Vegas.
Catterall was highly motivated, by the rivalry with Taylor, the disrespect he received in the build-up and by the opportunity to be the No. 1 super lightweight in the world.
The result was a less-than-pleasing fight which Taylor won, but which didn't do much to resolve any of the issues surrounding them. Taylor admits he performed poorly, but thought he won. Catterall thought he won and deserved to be the undisputed champion. More harsh words were spoken and the rivalry intensified.
And it was only increased when a Taylor injury forced postponement of the rematch until Saturday. All, though, should finally be settled.
“The last fight was a stinker from both of us," Taylor said Thursday. "Jack was doing a lot of holding and spoiling, slowing the pace down, I was very poor, as well. I believe the two of us can be a lot better and it will be a better fight for the fans. It’s going to be a barnstormer. We were in the arena on Monday and got a bit of a surprise. It’s right on top of you, so it’s going to be a great experience and atmosphere in there."
A big key to this, though, are those three words on the banner. It's hardly uncommon for opponents in a high-stakes match to have a healthy dislike, but it's rare it devolves to hate. Hate suggests feelings have become personal and in that case, it can impact the way a fight may unfold.
Catterall trainer Jamie Moore noted that the hatred has spurred interest among fans, and that's made the fight bigger, but both sides have to be careful that they don't allow it to negatively impact them.
“You have to forget about the first fight and you can’t take emotion into a fight, because if you do, you are fighting wrong," Moore said. "You have to be cool, calm and collected, and Jack is a hybrid. He adapts to whatever is in front of him, and I believe Josh is going to try something different. If he does, we’re ready for it.”
The division is one of the most loaded in the sport and the winner will be a big player in a hot division, that includes Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Isaac Cruz, Subriel Matias, Gary Antuanne Russell, Richardson Hitchins and Regis Prograis.
Catterall has won two bouts since losing to Taylor and feels he's a different fighter this time around.
"I watched the first fight and I didn’t rate it that much," he said. "I thought I beat him and I thought I did it comfortably. I think I underperformed, and maybe Josh did, as well, but we’ve prepared for the best version of Josh. I think over the last two years, I’ve improved as a fighter. I’ve been in the gym. I’ve not stepped out of it, [and] I’ve been learning and developing, taking myself away for sparring. I expect a better fight on Saturday. Emotions aside, I think I am the better fighter, and I am going to show that."
Taylor, of course, feels the same way.
Both fighters believe they have something to prove and when that's the case, the fight usually turns out to be entertaining.
"The way I have been performing in the gym, the shots I’ve been throwing and catching people with, if I catch him with these shots it will be over and devastating for him," Taylor said. "But we’ll see what happens. It’s just a win for me. This is must-win. This is for bragging rights. This is to say ‘I told you I am better than you,' so I can’t wait.”