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Jack Catterall’s trainer, Jamie Moore, has stated that his fighter would be willing to jump straight into a domestic showdown with Dalton Smith next.
Catterall suffered a narrow split decision defeat to Arnold Barboza Jnr on February 15 for the WBC interim junior welterweight title at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England. As a consequence, Catterall is now left in no-man’s land when it comes to searching for a shot at a world title.
One route that could be of interest to the Chorley, England-based fighter is a domestic showdown with Sheffield’s Dalton Smith. Smith recently secured his position as the mandatory challenger to the WBC 140lb title. The famous green-and-gold belt will be contested for by Albert Puello and Sando Martin this Saturday on the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jnr bill. The winner will then be granted a voluntary defense before being ordered to fight their mandatory, meaning Smith will likely be waiting until 2026 for his shot at the title.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who represents both Smith and Catterall, has stated that there are no plans to sit on Smith’s title shot and that the intent is to land a big fight for Smith this summer. Moore has also said Catterall has no plans for an easy touch in his next bout, so he would be willing to secure another title shot by facing Smith.
“Say, for instance, we were offered a Dalton Smith fight next – that’s the type of fight where I feel like, 100 per cent, we would be up for it,” Moore told BoxingScene. “And maybe Dalton now will look at that and think, ‘Jack’s maybe at the point in his career where I can take advantage of it,’ and I would welcome anybody in the sort of top 10 in the world looking at Jack now, hoping and thinking that he’s just past his best, because in my opinion it was just a blip. It was just an off night.”
Moore was asked if discussions have already started for a bout between Smith and Catterall.
“I’ve not heard anything, but I know it’s a fight that has been spoken about internally for quite a while,” he replied. “It was just about making it at the right time so it makes sense for both fighters. So, yeah, Dalton’s a great kid. I’ve got a lot of time for him; his dad, we’ve always got on well, and there’s certainly no needle there or animosity. It’s just a good fight.
“It’s two world-class fighters in the same weight division from the north of England, who, I’m assuming, will both be willing to put it on the line and see who the best man is.”
The big fight that Hearn is planning for Smith this summer will likely land in Sheffield, England – and potentially Hillsborough Stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday FC. Moore says Catterall would have no problem traveling to Smith’s home for the fight.
“Of course he would,” he said. “I mean, certainly coming off a close defeat on points like that, you’re then in a position where you go. If you get offered that fight, then you’re lucky, and if the deal’s right and you’ve got to go to your opponent’s backyard, of course you’ve got to do that.
“He’s built a great following over the last couple of years, Jack, in Manchester, and the atmosphere the other night was unbelievable. But going into a Dalton Smith fight in the position we’re in now, then we’d have to be looking at going as the away fighter, yeah.”
