All the boxers’ featuring on tomorrow’s show headlined by Josh Taylor’s Unified World Super-Lightweight Championship title defence against Jack Catterall at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, exclusively live on Sky Sports, officially weighed in today. Please the weights and running order for tomorrow night.
Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT LIVE on ESPN+
JOSH TAYLOR:
“All I’m thinking about is Jack Catterall. He’s trying to take away what I’ve worked so hard to get. I’ve cleaned out the division. He’s getting a shot at the jackpot in one fight. I’m going to put him in his place on Saturday.”
“He’s good. We’ll find out on Saturday, but he’s in for a long night. A long, painful methodical beatdown on Saturday. I don’t see a way that he can beat me in this fight. I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but I’m prepared for every way. Whatever he brings, I’m more than prepared for.”
Jack Catterall
“I’ve been mandatory for the WBO title. After waiting two years, I’ve got a chance now to capture the undisputed. I’ve not just come up here to make up the numbers. I’ve been waiting two years for this opportunity.”
“I think the respect has been there. Josh and I know that the respect is out of the window once the bell goes. We can shake hands after. We’re going to punch each other’s heads in, and that’s it.”
The fists did not start flying, but there were fireworks between undisputed junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor and top contender Jack Catterall. Taylor and Catterall will lock horns for all the belts Saturday evening OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, a short drive from Taylor’s hometown of Prestonpans.
(ESPN+, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT)
• Josh Taylor 140 vs. Jack Catterall 139
(Undisputed Junior Welterweight World Title— 12 Rounds)
• Robeisy Ramirez 126.3 lbs vs. Eric Donovan 126.3 lbs
(Featherweight — 10 Rounds)
• Nick Campbell 254 lbs vs. Jay McFarlane 276 lbs
(Vacant Scottish Heavyweight Title — 10 Rounds)
• Ebonie Jones 125.3 lbs vs. Efty Kathopouli 124 lbs
(Featherweight— 6 Rounds)
• John Docherty 172 lbs vs. Jordan Grant 176.3 lbs
(Light Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)
(Streaming on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel, 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT)
• Paddy Donovan 146 lbs vs. Miroslav Serban 145 lbs
(Welterweight — 6 Rounds)
• Kurt Walker 129 lbs vs. Jaroslav Hriadel 127.3 lbs
(Junior Lightweight — 4 Rounds)
• Kieran Molloy 154.3 lbs vs. Damian Esquisabel 154 lbs
(Junior Middleweight — 4 Rounds)
In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, Cuban star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Robeisy Ramirez, will face Irish contender Eric Donovan. Ramirez has not fought in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics, the site of his first Olympic triumph.
Taylor-Catterall, Ramirez-Donovan, and additional fight action will stream live exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday’s press conference.
Josh Taylor
“Everyone has been starved for nights out and things to do these last two years. There hasn’t been much happening. Everyone has come out in numbers — {the arena} has sold out — and I’ve got an abundance of fans coming from England supporting me. I’ve probably got more fans coming from England to support me than Jack has coming to support him. It’s a great night. I can’t wait.”
“It’s Jack on Saturday. It’s his turn next. He’s going to get the beating Saturday, which I’m going to dish out. All I’m thinking about is Jack Catterall. He’s trying to take away what I’ve worked so hard to get. I’ve cleaned out the division. He’s getting a shot at the jackpot in one fight. I’m going to put him in his place on Saturday.”
“He’s good. We’ll find out on Saturday, but he’s in for a long night. A long, painful methodical beatdown on Saturday.”
“I don’t see a way that he can beat me in this fight. I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but I’m prepared for every way. Whatever he brings, I’m more than prepared for.”
Jack Catterall
“I’ve been mandatory for the WBO title. After waiting two years, I’ve got a chance now to capture the undisputed. I’ve not just come up here to make up the numbers. I’ve been waiting two years for this opportunity.”
“I think the respect has been there. Josh and I know that the respect is out of the window once the bell goes. We can shake hands after. We’re going to punch each other’s heads in, and that’s in.”
Robeisy Ramirez
“Scotland and the UK, in general, is an extraordinary place to me. It is deeply ingrained in my memory because I have fond memories of earning my first gold medal in London in 2012. I want the fans to see the new Robeisy Ramirez and this new era in my career as a professional.”
“Of course, I feel like I can replicate my amateur success as a professional. It is my only mission to replicate and best what I did at the amateur level by winning a world championship. And if it means that I have to fight in the UK, Asia, or wherever I have to fight, I will do that. I am used to it. I’m on a mission to become a world champion and show that I am going to be a better world professional than I was an amateur.”
Eric Donovan
“It’s a big night, probably the biggest night of my boxing career. I think it’s fair to say that. I’m under no illusion how big the task will be, but when my manager, Mark Dunlop, presented me with this opportunity, he didn’t have to ask me twice. I’m in this game to prove myself, and when I do finally look back on my career, I want to be remembered as someone who took on great fighters and was involved in great fights. And you don’t get any better than a two-time Olympic gold medalist. I cannot wait for this, relishing this opportunity.”
Paddy Donovan
“{The fans} can expect a world-class performance. I believe I am one of the best prospects in the world in boxing right now coming through. I want to be one of the best fighters in the history of Ireland, and it’s going to start Saturday night when I get in that ring. I don’t believe any fighter in the world will beat me. I’ll beat any challenge that comes in front of me.”
Kurt Walker
“I’m buzzing to be on this show. I’ve been camp for three months with Michael Conlan, so I’ve been putting in the camp that he’s been putting in for his world title fight {March 12 against Leigh Wood}. What a show to be on. I’m buzzing for it.”
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- GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor flexes on the scale during the weigh in with Jack Catterall prior to their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at SEC on February 25, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
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- GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Josh Taylor (L) and Jack Catterall (R) face-off during the weigh in prior to their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at SEC on February 25, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
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- GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Jack Catterall flexes on the scale during the weigh in with Josh Taylor prior to their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at SEC on February 25, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
