talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has backed Josh Taylor to beat Jack Catterall again when they meet in a rematch on April 27.
Tensions boiled over between Taylor and Catterall during their two-city press tour this week to promote their second bout, which will be staged in Leeds, with the pair getting physical during a face-off at the first press conference in Edinburgh on Monday, which was laden with insults.
The rivals were much more cordial to each other during an interview with talkSPORT on Wednesday and even shook hands live on air, having clashed prior to Tuesday’s press conference in Manchester.
Jordan was asked by co-host Jim White for his prediction for the fight and in typical honest fashion, the former Crystal Palace owner sided towards ‘The Tartan Tornado’, but admitted he isn’t ruling out Catterall, who was controversially denied a famous win over his rival when they first met in February 2022.
“My gut feel says Josh Taylor [wins],” Jordan said.
“Because I’m a huge admirer of his.
“I’ve seen his body of work and I think the best version of Josh Taylor beats the best version of Jack Catterall, but I don’t know if we’ve got the best version of Josh Taylor left.
“I think the last two performances, unless theres’s a sea change, I think there’s a distinct possibility that Jack will beat him.”
The Edinburgh man defended his then-undisputed super lightweight crowns with a split decision victory in Glasgow, before vacating all-but his one remaining WBO belt which he was relieved of by Teofimo Lopez in New York in June.
Taylor has opted to remain at 140lbs for this non-title bout and is hopeful that there is no contention over the victor of the fight this time around.
“But, I think it’s a pick’em and that’s the intrigue and there’s jeopardy and there’s bad blood,” Jordan added.
“Not hatred that’s theatricals, they’re in one another’s way and they want to get out of one another’s way.
“I think it’s going be a great fight and whoever wins is going to deserve it and I hope we don’t get any stupid refereeing scoring like we did in the last fight.”
Earlier on the show, Catterall who beat three-weight world champion, Jorge Linares in October promised to end his rival’s career on April 27.
“I think he touched the ceiling with [beating Jose] Ramirez [to win the undisputed championship,” the 30-year-old said.
“I beat him and since then he’s been on the decline.
“I think after April 27, Josh Taylor retires.”
