Jack Catterall exclusive diary: I think the fight with Taylor can be made

I’ve been back from my trip to Las Vegas for a couple of weeks now. The main bit of business was to go out and be there for the fight between Josh Taylor and Jose Luis Ramirez. That fight went ahead on the understanding that I get the next shot at the WBO title so I wanted to be there to show everybody that I’m serious about this. For odds on all the latest fights, visit our sportsbook.

I flew out there on my own but took my gym bag with me. I thought I might as well get as much as I could out of the trip so I decided to go to a couple of gyms. First stop was the Mayweather Gym and there was a bit of a double bluff. I called in and asked if I could hit the bags and got asked if I had my sparring gear.

I said, ‘Yep’ and they said to come back at 1pm. I think I called their bluff a bit. I turned up and did a few rounds with one of their welterweights. They were asking me who I was and what my record was. They soon realised and I think they were impressed. We also did some training and sparring at the Top Rank gym.

Like I said, I wanted to get myself out there and let people know that I was serious about fighting the winner of Taylor and Ramirez. I went around the gyms and was around the fight and did some interviews. It was worth it. Josh deserved to win. He gave a few of the early rounds away but the knockdowns turned it. The lean back left hand for the first knockdown was quality but Ramirez will still be kicking himself about the uppercut when he came out of the clinch too relaxed. Taylor finished really strongly over the last few rounds.

I do think the fight with Taylor can be made but what I do know is that whatever happens, my next fight will definitely either be for either the WBO light welterweight title or for all of the belts at 10 stone. After all the waiting I’ve had over the years I’m hoping to finally be fighting for a world title by the end of September. I just have to wait for the phonecalls.

Chantelle Cameron and the rest of my gym mates arrived after the fight. Chantelle had her world title defence the next week so I helped her make the final preparations with the last bits of training and making weight then she went in there and did a good job. That’s the perfect mandatory defence. Chantelle was in total control from the start, did the job in good fashion, got paid and can now look forward to some bigger fights.

And that’s it. I’m home, the family are all well and I’m back in the gym training and getting ready. Hopefully I should have some news soon.

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