Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall: Scot apologises as rematch postponed

Despite being knocked down in the eighth round, Taylor edged a controversial victory in his first fight with Catterall

Josh Taylor apologised to fans after his long-awaited rematch with Jack Catterall in Leeds was postponed for a second time.

The fight was initially called off last year after a foot injury for Taylor.

Now the Scot has revealed he had a "minor eye procedure" in early February and at a final check-up on Wednesday was told his "recovery had slowed".

The non-title bout has now been pushed back from 27 April to 25 May and will still take place at First Direct Arena.

"Sorry for all inconvenience caused," said Taylor. "To my fans and everyone who bought a ticket and booked travel, I sincerely apologise."

Taylor added that the fight, when it happens, "will be worth the wait".

He earned a contentious split-decision win over Catterall in Glasgow when his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light-welterweight belts were on the line in February 2022.

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The pair have maintained a bitter rivalry and when they met again at a news conference last month, they had to be pulled apart just seconds into proceedings.

Taylor has fought just once since their first meeting, losing his WBO belt to Teofimo Lopez in New York last June. The 33-year-old had vacated the other three world titles before the first defeat of his professional career.

Catterall's defeat by Taylor ended his unbeaten record but the Englishman, 30, has regrouped to earn unanimous points victories over Darragh Foley last May and Venezuelan veteran Jorge Linares in October.

Super-bantamweight Peter McGrail's rematch with American Ja'Rico O'Quinn will still take place on 27 April but has been switched from Leeds to McGrail's hometown of Liverpool.