Jack Catterall Refuses To Wait Again For Devin Haney Title Fight

Catterall says years spent waiting as a mandatory challenger taught him not to pause his career for sanctioning-body politics again

Jack Catterall says he will never again allow his career to stall while waiting for a mandatory title shot after spending years chasing Josh Taylor. The British welterweight chose a dangerous fight against Shakhram Giyasov instead of sitting inactive while waiting for Devin Haney.

“How long did I wait as WBO mandatory? I think it was almost coming up three years, and it was the most frustrating time of my life,” said Catterall to The Ring about his decision to move away from waiting on the WBO route and instead chase a second belt opportunity against Giyasov.

“So, for me, if there’s a fight on the table, it has to warrant turning that opportunity down, but this did. A WBA regular world title on a massive bill eight to 10 weeks away from when it got proposed. I’m not going to say no to that.

“I could have been sat or being asked if I wanted a tick over fight. I’m 32 years old, I’m ready to fight anybody, so if Haney ain’t going to fight, and that’s what I’m being told, then give me Shakhram.”

The memory of waiting years for his shot at Josh Taylor still appears to bother him. Catterall reached the top spot in the WBO rankings back in 2018 but did not receive his title fight until 2022.

Now, he says he is no longer willing to leave his career inactive while sanctioning bodies and champions sort out bigger money fights around him.

“My understanding is there’s a contract in place with a timescale. He’s got to defend his title against me when I beat Shakram. If not, you vacate, and then we’re on the hunt for more fights,” said Catterall.

“I was never prepared to do what I did years ago, and almost be forced to sit on the bench and wait because it never worked out.

“I can’t live with regrets. Everything at the time was what it was, but I learned from it.”

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