A huge fight heads the card at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester this Saturday, as Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr clash for the vacant WBO interim super lightweight title, that doubles up as a final eliminator for WBO champion Teofimo Lopez’s crown.
Matchroom promote Catterall vs Barboza, and DAZN televise live.
Catterall (30-1, 13 KOs) saw his stock rise in defeat in February 2022, and it was a controversial one as Josh Taylor retained his unified world title with a contentious split decision win in Glasgow.
From there, the Chorley man has kicked on, and after outscoring Darragh Foley, he took a clear points win over former world champion Jorge Linares to round off 2023.
After a long time waiting for the Taylor rematch, Catterall finally got his wish last May, and dominated against the lacklustre Scot, winning widely on the cards. ‘El Gato’ stepped up in class in his most recent fight, getting off the canvas against Regis Prograis, and then dropping the American twice on the way to a handy unanimous win.
Barboza Jr (31-0, 11 KOs) is next for Catterall, and the Californian has been carefully matched in a career that has yet to truly take off. The 33-year-old did enjoy a good 2024 though, and after forcing Xolisani Ndongeni to retire after eight rounds in January, he took a split decision against Sean McComb three months later.
Barboza took a big step up for his last assignment, taking a close win over ten rounds against former unified world champion, Jose Carlos Ramirez in Riyadh last November.
Prediction: Catterall is in touching distance of another world title shot, and he may need to overcome some testing moments against Barboza. The American has never been past ten rounds, and this could play into Catterall’s hands, and I back Catterall to take a points win to move closer to the world title belt that he craves.
3 weeks to go #CatterallBarboza pic.twitter.com/qZCtZn0ozc
— Jack Catterall (@jack_catt93) January 25, 2025
Bellotti and Gomez finally settle the score
The British and Commonwealth super featherweight titles are on the line on the undercard, as Reece Bellotti (19-5, 14 KOs) defends against Michael Gomez Jr (21-1, 6 KOs).
The two should have met last October, but Gomez had to pull out with just minutes until the opening bell due to illness.
🗣️ ‘He’s swallowed it!”
Reece Bellotti reacts to the Gomez Jr withdrawal 🤬#CatterallPrograis | @DAZNBoxing | #BellottiGomezJr pic.twitter.com/NjNTDS8SLa
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 26, 2024
Bellotti is rejuvenated after four times in five outings between 2018 and 2021, and he is on a run of five straight wins, taking the vacant Commonwealth crown by retiring Aqib Fiaz after eight in October last year, and he added the British belt by taking a points win over Liam Dillon four months later. ‘Bomber’ was last seen in July, widely outscoring Levi Giles.
Gomez is also in good form, winning his last dozen since losing to Henry Janes in March 2019, and he comes in as the English champion, last defending in April, halting Kane Baker in six.
Prediction: This is a cracking looking trade fight, and I lean towards the younger Gomez to follow in his dad’s footsteps, and take the title via very close decision.
Barrett returns against Dickens & McCormack faces Davies
A crossroads clash at the same weight should see Zelfa Barrett (31-2, 17 KOs) live to fight another day, and the former world title challenger can score a stoppage win against James ‘Jazza’ Dickens (34-5, 14 KOs), a former IBO champion at featherweight. It’s set for ten.
Another ten rounder should see former Olympian Pat McCormack (6-0, KO4) take an inside schedule victory against Robbie Davies Jr (24-5, 15 KOs) in their welterweight meeting.
Further undercard preview
In six rounders, William Crolla (6-0, 5 KOs) can take another early win, this time against Ayoub Zakari (5-7-1, 0 KOs) at super welterweight, and at lightweight, Aqib Fiaz (12-1, 1 KO) can shake off the rust in a points success against Lydon Chircop (7-2, 4 KOs). Light heavyweight debutant Conner Tudsbury can begin professional life with a stoppage win against Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (7-5, 5 KOs).
The only four rounder comes at featherweight, where Alfie Middlemiss (1-0, 0 KOs) should run out a points winner over Caine Singh (1-5-2, 0 KOs).
