MANCHESTER, England – Jack Catterall and Harlem Eubank’s Saturday battle ended prematurely when cuts to both men meant the fight at Manchester’s AO Arena headed to the scorecards after just six rounds.
Catterall was awarded a unanimous decision win by scores of 69-66 (twice) and 69-65. He did not set the world alight with his performance, but things were just starting to catch fire when the contest came to an early end.
Catterall, now 31-1 (13 KOs), was a big step up for Eubank, whose best win had come against a shopworn Tyrone McKenna back in March. Catterall had been competing with the very best at 140lbs and arguably should have been crowned undisputed champion back in 2022 against Josh Taylor.
Although Saturday marked Catterall’s debut in the welterweight division, it was he who appeared the bigger man when the pair came to the center ring at the sound of the opening bell. Eubank waved his left hand in Catterall’s face in a bid to confuse the southpaw from Chorley, England, but it had little effect and Catterall ploughed in a left hand to his face. Eubank seemed frustrated and tried to push forwards to land, but he ate another left before the round came to a close.
Eubank, a 31-year-old from Brighton, England, again came out waving his left hand around in the second. However, Catterall again remained composed and nailed Eubank with a left. Eubank was slowly starting to realize that the tricks that had worked on so many of his previous opponents were not going to have an effect against the experienced Catterall, 32. He quickly abandoned his tactics, pushed forwards, but ate another left hand as Catterall glided away.
The pair became tangled together in the third round and tumbled to the floor, which seemed to have an effect on Eubank, who pressed forwards in a hope to turn the tide. Catterall cracked Eubank with a left hand that seemed to stun Eubank, who realized it was also Catterall who carried the heavier hands of the two. Eubank landed his best shot of the fight in the fourth – a straight right hand that clipped Catterall’s chin – but Catterall responded well and landed a right of his own. Eubank was growing increasingly frustrated, and lunged in with attacks. He started to catch Catterall, mainly to the body, but was leaving himself wide open for a counter.
Eubank started the fifth better, landing a right hand that certainly got the respect of Catterall. Eubank tried to follow it up, but Catterall was too clever, pivoting away from danger. Catterall landed a couple nice hard lefts, but he was getting sloppy and Eubank was growing into the contest. Both men hit the deck again in the sixth after they tangled together, and they were warned for their conduct. Things were getting messy, and when the pair came together in a clinch, both men clashed heads. A nasty gash opened up above Catterall’s right eye and Eubank’s left.
The round ended and the damage over Catterall’s eye became more clear – it spanned across the length of Catterall’s eyebrow and it seemed as though the contest would surely be stopped. Catterall’s cutman attempted to mend the nasty gash, doing the best he could. The ringside doctor assessed the cut and at first allowed the contest to continue, but as both fighters stood across from each other ready to battle it out, referee Bob Williams decided to call an end to proceedings. It seemed as though he had noticed the damage over Eubank’s eye and had decided it was in both men’s best interest that things were ended then and there.
The corners did not get the message, and confusion spread around ringside. Catterall seemed outraged, and Eubank started to celebrate. Was it a KO win for the man from Brighton? Slowly things became clear and Catterall’s corner started to calm down – the fight would head to the scorecards for a technical decision. Catterall was awarded the victory, much to the displeasure of Eubank and his team. But the result was fair, and Catterall will now push on to bigger and better things.
Eubank, who fell to 21-0 (9 KOs) with the first defeat of his career, called for a rematch, but Catterall promoter Eddie Hearn declared it was not of interest to the world-title-chasing Catterall.
Tom Ivers is an amateur boxer who has a masters degree in sports journalism. He had his first bout in 2013, joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.
