In a blink-and-you-miss-it frenzy, the rematch between arch-nemeses Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on a chilly Saturday, April 27, vanished from the ticket counters faster than a left hook, leaving fans clamoring for a spot. This boxing bonanza, a feast for the eyes live on DAZN across the UK and globally, with an exclusive American ringside seat on ESPN+, became the hottest ticket in town before you could say “ring the bell.”
Earlier in the week, the duo reignited their fiery rivalry, throwing verbal jabs at each other across press conferences in Edinburgh and Manchester, topping it off in the Capital with a face-off for the ages. This verbal sparring session, soon to hit the digital stands on DAZN and Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channels, had fans on the edge of their seats, chuckling at their punchlines on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan show.
The backstory to this saga traces back to February 2022 in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena, where Taylor, in a plot twist that had fans gasping, narrowly escaped with his Undisputed Super-Lightweight World Title intact, courtesy of a decision that had controversy written all over it.
That night, Taylor danced with danger, nursing cuts and hitting the canvas in the 8th, only to be penalized for a late punch in the 11th. Catterall, too, wasn’t spared by the ref, losing a point for holding in the 10th. Despite seemingly outmaneuvering Taylor, Catterall’s record was blemished for the first time, sparking a debate that set the boxing world ablaze.
Catterall, buoyed by a sea of support, didn’t mince words: “Thanks for shelling out your hard-earned cash to watch me hand Taylor his comeuppance in Leeds. Beyond the hype and the weigh-in circus, I’ve got a score to settle on April 27. Taylor, consider yourself on borrowed time; your reign ends with me.”
Eddie Hearn, the puppet master behind Matchroom Sport, couldn’t contain his excitement: “Talk about a sell-out smash! Leeds’ First Direct Arena is bursting at the seams. The dust from their first clash hasn’t settled, and here we are, gearing up for a sequel that promises to be nothing short of legendary, all part of the DAZN experience.”