Jack Catterall defended his WBA Intercontinental super lightweight title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool with a straightforward points win against the veteran Jorge Linares.
Caterall saw his stock rise in a contentious 2022 defeat to Josh Taylor, and he returned in May with a lop-sided points win over ten against Darragh Foley. Linares came in as a three-weight world champion, but a faded force after losing his last three outings.
Catterall (28-1, KO13) took time to get going in what was a cagey first three rounds, although he was getting the better of the early action, and a couple of solid shots landed from the Chorley man in round four. The contest sprang into life in the fifth, where Linares (47-9, KO29) was shaken, and he was forced to back up under fire from the Englishman. Catterall had found his groove, and dominated the second half of the fight, staying one step ahead, troubling Linares to the body in the ninth and generally having the final say. The result was academic as we went to the scorecards.
👀 @jack_catt93 hurts @JorgeLinares in the fifth!#CatterallLinares pic.twitter.com/sJR3Qpx6K9
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023
Two scores of 116-112, and a third at 117-111 confirmed the win for Catterall, who called out old foe Josh Taylor post-fight.
Peter McGrail (8-0, KO5) was given a stern test by Fran Mendoza (17-1, KO7), and he eventually took a ten round decision win in their super featherweight bout. Two scores of 99-91, and a third at 97-93 gave the talented Liverpudlian victory.
Hit and not get hit ✨ @peter_mcgrail
In the ninth round live on @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/5sIQQEXyK5
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 21, 2023
Reece Bellotti (17-5, KO14) continued his recent career renaissance, as he claimed the vacant Commonwealth super featherweight title with Aqib Fiaz (12-1, KO1) being pulled out by his corner after the eighth round. Fiaz was dropped in the same round as Bellotti became a two-weight Commonwealth champion.
Reece Bellotti proves too much 💥
Now Commonwealth Super Featherweight Champion and mandatory for the British Title 🇬🇧#CatterallLinares | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/VptbCOQ4vE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023
Campbell Hatton (14-0, KO5) extended his unbeaten run, as Jamie Sampson (9-3, KO0) was disqualified in the eighth and final round of their super lightweight meeting for persistent holding. Sampson had already been deducted points for the same infringements earlier in the contest.
DQ in the eighth! Jamie Sampson pays the price for constant holding after two prior deductions @CampbellHatton picks up win number five of 2023 👊 #CatterallLinares pic.twitter.com/8fsRmPCVtN
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 21, 2023
Khaleel Majid (12-0, KO4) dropped Tom Farrell (21-8, KO5) three times en route to a sixth round stoppage at super lightweight, and Jack Turner (3-0, KO3) took care of Adam Yahaya (23-11-2, KO12) inside a round at bantamweight.
.@khaleelmajid is RELENTLESS 💥
The Bolton native adds another victory to his unblemished record.#CatterallLinares | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/6itB1VGJVR
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023
Jack Turner. El Terrier. Remember the name.#CatterallLinares | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/3fCVupAZoj
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023
Middleweight prospect Paddy Lacey (10-0, KO2) needed just over 90 seconds to blast out Owen Kirk (3-2-2, KO0) with a body shot, and William Crolla (2-0, KO1) only required less than a minute to deal with Martin Shaw (4-17-3, KO1) at super welterweight.
WITH THE BODY SHOT 💪@paddy_lacey delivers for his home crowd
Watch #CaterallLinares Before the Bell LIVE on YouTube ➡ https://t.co/QckVa1KMsW pic.twitter.com/xOpqo41ON2
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 21, 2023
💲 𝓜𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓪𝓻 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓪 𝓙𝓻 💲@williamcrolla picks up win number two as a pro with a first round stoppage over Martin Shaw
WHAT A START 🤯 #CatterallLinares pic.twitter.com/qPtTqI0Uu3
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 21, 2023
Muhammad Mustafa Ali (4-0, KO1) won every round of six against Giulio Commerso (2-1, KO0) in their super bantamweight contest.
