So much at stake in Taylor v Catterall 2 - Frampton

Josh Taylor (left) won the first fight with Jack Catterall on a split decision

Josh Taylor meets Jack Catterall in Leeds on Saturday in one of the most hotly anticipated rematches in recent British boxing history.

Two years on from their hugely controversial first bout they will finally settle the score in a fight that, while having no belts at stake, will have huge implications for the careers of both men.

BBC Sport Scotland spoke to former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, old training partner and close friend of both fighters, to get his insights on Taylor v Catterall 2.

The story so far

The first fight between the pair in Glasgow in February 2022 ended with widespread disbelief when Taylor, defending his four light-welterweight world titles as undisputed champion, was awarded victory by two of the three judges despite appearing to most observers to have been outboxed by the Englishman.

“Jack will feel it was unjust and he should have had the decision,” Frampton said.

“A lot of people had Josh winning the fight easy, and I had Josh as favourite as well, but I was saying ‘Jack Catterall is no mug’.

“He’s amazing in the gym, so good to watch, so although I was picking Josh I never thought for a second it was going to be an easy fight for either man.

“I think there probably was a bit of complacency from Josh. When the whole world is telling you it’s an easy fight - you start to believe it yourself and maybe take your eye off the ball a bit. That might have been what happened.

“Josh will admit this himself, it was an under-par performance, he wasn’t close to his best, but Jack was very good on the night.”

'Taylor one of best fighters I've ever seen'

Taylor has faced a barrage of criticism since that controversial night at the Hydro, with many believing he was the beneficiary of one of the worst decisions ever seen in a British ring.

The Scot has had just one fight since, losing to the impressive Teofimo Lopez in New York in June last year.

It’s three years since the Tartan Tornado became undisputed light-welterweight champion with a memorable win over Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas.

His performances in his following two contests, and prolonged inactivity, have led many to question whether the 33-year-old’s best days are behind him.

“That is the question and I suppose we’ll know the answer after the fight with Jack,” said Frampton, who shared a gym with Taylor when both men were under the tutelage of Shane McGuigan.

“Genuinely, Josh Taylor is one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. I used to train and then quickly get away from the gym, but I always made a point to stay and watch Josh’s sessions if he was sparring because I always loved what I was watching. But I did that with Jack Catterall as well.

“There are questions around Josh. He’s been in hard fights, he’s been around a long time and age catches up with everybody. I’m not saying that’s the case, all I’m saying is we’ll know after the fight.

“I love Josh Taylor, love everything about him.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and sometimes I’m looking when he’s saying the things he says online and thinking ‘you don’t need to Josh, just stay out of that’. But that’s just the way he is, he doesn’t care what other people think and there’s something nice about that as well.

“He says what he wants and I can completely respect that.”

Taylor (left) became Britain's first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era when he beat Ramirez in Las Vegas May 2021

The rivalry

The two years since the first fight have been punctuated with insults flying between the fighters, through traditional and social media.

Terms were agreed for a rematch to take place in February of 2023, only for Taylor to pull out through injury. Catterall then agreed to fight Darragh Foley while Taylor was mandated to defend his WBO world title against Lopez.

For a long time it looked like Taylor v Catterall 2 would not happen, but since the pair signed on for the rematch the promotional events have been fiery affairs.

The stark contrast in personalities is one of the big selling points of a bout branded ‘Hate Runs Deep’.

“Completely different characters,” said Frampton, who trained alongside Catterall in the latter stages of his career, under Jamie Moore.

“Jack is a bit more laid back; Josh is 100 miles an hour. Josh is a good guy, as is Jack, but there is definitely a lot of animosity.

“I watched the head-to-head they did together and they both said they don’t hate each other. Not necessarily that they like each other but they don’t hate each other. I don’t know if I believe that, I think both of them probably do hate each other a little.

“You know what this game’s like, it’s very personal. It’s two men fighting at the end of the day. Potentially, after this fight and depending on what goes on, maybe their dislike for each other will dilute a wee bit.”

A lot on the line in Leeds

Catterall, 30, is steadfast in his belief he should have been crowned undisputed champion 27 months ago.

While he has enjoyed victories over Foley and the veteran Jorge Linares since, he knows only by beating Taylor will he push himself towards the world title shot he so desperately craves.

Taylor is adamant he is not over the hill and has spoken of moving up to welterweight, and attempting to become a two-weight world champion.

Both men know victory in Leeds is critical to their future prospects.

“Whoever wins, there’s massive fights to come," Frampton said. "I think the options are endless really.

“Where does the loser go? It could be retirement. I never like to say stuff like that, but at the stage both guys are at in their careers, it’s quite possible.”