Chorley’s Jack Catterall is vowing to get straight back to the gym after seeing his world title ambitions suffer a setback after an agonising split-decision loss to undefeated American Arnold Barboza Jr on Saturday night.
The 31-year-old was looking to win the vacant interim WBO Super-Lightweight world title but was on the wrong end of the judges’ decision after a tense and cagey affair that went the distance against the older man from Californian.
Catterall had gone into this latest top-of-the-bill outing at Manchester’s Coop Live in confident mood after claiming victory against Regis Prograis last October to claim the WBO International crown.
But he never really clicked into top gear against a tricky opponent who was also tentative in a bout that failed to live up its billing in truth.
Both boxers traded blows without really stamping their authority over 12 rounds and the man from Los Angeles, who is now undefeated in 32 pro fights, edged it 115-113 from two of the ringside judges, Catterall claiming the decision by the same scoreline from the third.
A disappointed Catterall said post-fight: “It was a close fight - there is no argument from me.
“I thought I had just done enough but it wasn’t good enough.
“I’ll have a little rest, talk with my team and Eddie [Hearn] then it will be straight back to it and straight back to the gym.”
After a pre-fight big-screen promo saw Catterall poke fun at his 'boring' tag, it was not anticipated the fight would follow suit - but it was far from a thriller.
It was technical and cagey from the start after a first round with hardly a punch thrown in anger. And it rarely went up through the gears despite improving and opening up slightly.
As round by round went by with very little in it, both boxers landed good shots but failed to then build-on it as each seemingly waited for the other to make a mistake.
Catterall, vocally backed by a ‘home’ crowd chanting ‘Chorley’ and by former champion Tony Bellew ringside, consistently landed good left jabs but never really pushed on.
Likewise, Barboza Jr - who was on the front foot a lot more throughout - also never gambled when he landed good shots.
The most excitement came when the man from Los Angeles tumbled to the canvas in round 10 but experienced referee Steve Gray instantly indicated it was a slip and not a knockdown.
The final round did see both open up more as they went for a last-round victory but it went the distance - and then against Catterall.
Maybe Barboza Jr’s raised hand at the end of each round convinced the judges he had edged it.
In truth it could have gone either way.
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn said: “It was a very close fight - they were evenly matched.
“Every judge had Barboza Jr winning the last round, but I thought Jack did. Look, it was seven rounds to five for each judge.
“I thought Jack edged it but maybe he left a bit in the ring - it was like a chess match at times.”
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