Catterall Calls Out Ryan Garcia, Seeks Championship Bout

Jack Catterall has called out Ryan Garcia, challenging the popular star to a fight in any weight class.

Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) is coming off a twelve-round unanimous decision against the past his best former undisputed light welterweight Josh Taylor in their rematch last Saturday night in Leeds, England.

Catterall’s Style: A Barrier to Popularity

I must say there’s literally zero chance of Catterall ever getting a fight against Ryan Garcia because he has that boring Shakur-esque fighting style with the nonstop moving, holding, and jabbing. Catterall is like a poor man’s version of Shakur Stevenson.

That style doesn’t resonate with U.S fans, and I don’t think it does anything for UK fans either. You can argue that the only reason anyone is making a big production about Catterall right now is that Eddie Hearn promotes him, and he was talking up a storm about him ahead of time.

The 28-year-old Catterall is now trying to stir up some game, looking to get the biggest fight possible against Ryan Garcia or one of the world champions at 140. That fight has no realistic chance of happening now or likely at any point in the distant future.

Catterall’s Hurdles: A Mountain Too High

Catterall has these things working against him in getting a fight against Ryan Garcia or any of the popular fighters at 140:

• Boring safety-first style: Catterall’s jabbing, excessive holding, and boring moving style prevent him from being a highly sought-after opponent for any popular fighter.
• Lack of name recognition: Americans don’t know who Catterall is, and his fighting style is a carbon copy of Shakur Stevenson’s.
• Not popular in the U.S: Catterall will not be popular in the U.S because he’s fighting the wrong opposition. His last two fights have come against Josh Taylor and Jorge Linares. Those guys aren’t on the map for U.S fans.

Despite lacking high rankings or a win over a top-level light welterweight, Catterall wants a title shot against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez next. That fight ain’t happening. There is literally NO chance that the Top Rank-promoted Teofimo is going to give Catterall a title shot in a voluntary defense.

If he wants a title shot, he will have to beat some of the killers at 140, starting with Jamaine Ortiz and Elvis Rodriguez. I don’t see Catterall beating either of those guys. His gas tank is too limited, he can’t punch, and he’s just a clincher/jabber. That’s not going to work against those talents.

“Any weight Garcia feels good at, I’ll beat him at,’” said Catterall to talkSport about wanting to fight Ryan Garcia.

I’d love to fight [Teofimo] Lopez. That’s a big fight, the WBO world title. Any of the champions,” said Jack Catterall to talkSport Boxing about who he wants to fight next after his win over Josh Taylor last Saturday.

“My goal and ambition right now is to become a world champion,” said Catterall when asked about his thoughts on a trilogy match with Taylor.

“If that’s what’s on the table and that’s what the fans want, I’ll entertain it,” said Catterall about a trilogy with Taylor.

Clash with Promoter Bob Arum

“It was a bit disrespectful,” said Catterall to TalkSport Boxing about promoter Bob Arum grabbing the microphone and going into a rant after his win over Taylor, railing about the wide scores by the judges and saying he’ll never bring another American fighter over to the UK.

Arum promotes Teofimo, and I don’t think he’s going to want anything to do with putting a fight together with Catterall after what he witnessed last Saturday night with how the judges scored the fight in an odd way.