Ben Shalom hopes to set up a Josh Taylor rematch for Jack Catterall, but believes that any title fight will have to be against a different opponent.
The BOXXER promoter was speaking to Sky Sports to discuss the controversy over the scoring that saw the undisputed champion successfully defend his belt against his mandatory challenger, but receive plenty of criticism after claiming he was the winner.
Many believed the fight had in fact gone the other way, and while Taylor admitted on Monday that it was a ‘close’ fight, he continued to claim he was the winner and also said there would likely be no rematch. Taylor had already expected to move up to welterweight, though Shalom sees a solution.
“I think it’s difficult,” he acknowledged. “I know Jack would do anything for a rematch. I think maybe it makes more sense at a catchweight, 143 or 144, particularly if there's not going to be titles on the line. Yes, they can fight again. I do think that is a route forward.”
Shalom also thinks that while Catterall may never get a shot at all four belts at once again, he is likely at the first of the queue to compete for any vacancies.
“There will be vacant world titles if Josh moves up and he’ll have opportunities again,” he said of Catterall.
“But let’s not move away from the fact that Jack just fought for all four titles for a life-changing amount... to come from it. So rematch or not, Jack has just lost something he worked his whole life for. We’re going to push for a rematch.
“He’s worked that hard to be WBO mandatory. I think the governing bodies would have no choice. It’s a travesty for him. He might be able to fight for one title again but not all four. He waited and waited and waited, and he’s ended up in this position. There is no other sport that hasn’t evolved in terms of decision making. Boxing - winning and losing is more important than any other sport. Football, you play the next week. Tennis, you play the next couple of months.”