WHILE not exactly staring down the barrel of an early retirement, Jack Catterall was nonetheless forced to contend with a medium-sized setback earlier this year.
In truth, his performance in February was at no point close to delivering fireworks, or even a mini spark, as he fiddled his way towards a razor-thin split decision defeat.
Albeit against Arnold Barboza Jr, a world-level operator, the loss – just as it would for any athlete with lofty ambitions – stung like hell.
But instead of lying to himself, and hoping to convince the world that his defeat was nothing more than a flash in the pan, Catterall, 30-2 (13 KOs), has actively focused on refining his skills in the ring.
More specifically, a trip out to America, which arrived soon after his loss to Barboza, saw the 32-year-old enter a series of gyms as the ‘away’ fighter.
In doing so, he embraced the opportunity to test himself in sparring, taking on a crop of ravenous contenders who, more than likely, would have seen him as little more than food on a plate.
But without wishing to aimlessly throw himself to the wolves, there was, much to the contrary, a method to the madness.
“In the immediate aftermath [of the Barboza fight], there was a lot of frustration,” Catterall told Boxing News. “If you go out there and get iced by a fighter, or get beat to a pulp for 12 rounds, then you can at least accept that you’re not at that level.
“But to be pipped out in a close points decision, where I felt like I underperformed, is probably worse. I was just kicking myself.
“I had to rest my body after a busy 18 months. With the [Jorge] Linares, [Josh] Taylor and [Regis] Prograis fights, getting through those camps was a lot.
“Then I spoke to Jamie [Moore] and Nigel [Travis], [his trainers], and told them that I wanted to go out to America. I was on my own, under a bit of pressure, with my back against the wall.
“I was sparring some really good fighters, multiple times a week. I went out to ‘Boots’ Ennis’ gym, Danny Garcia’s gym, and kept really busy – but I loved it.
“Boxing’s a big part of my life, so I was in my element, and came home feeling like I’d gotten exactly what I needed out of the trip.
“I wanted to be that British guy who turned up with his gumshield, with everyone thinking, ‘who the f*** is this?’
“Some fighters knew who I was, so maybe they wanted to prove something in sparring, but that’s also what I wanted.”
Along with sharpening his tools across the pond, Catterall has equally teased that his style, more so from a tactical perspective, is now adequately adapted ahead of his next assignment.
The Chorley man will, of course, collide with Harlem Eubank, 21-0 (9 KOs), this Saturday, with their welterweight contest headlining a Matchroom Boxing card at the Manchester Arena.
But for Catterall, who knows the intensity that his opponent is likely to bring, a more aggressive approach – or at least, more so than usual – is likely to be put on display come fight night.
“I look at my performance in the Taylor [rematch] where, you could say that there was a lot of emotion involved, but I was also a lot more active – boxing on the front foot,” he said.
“Normally my style would be appreciated by people who understand the sweet science, and have watched boxing for many years – not just looking for a straight-up war.
“At 31 years old, I’m not going to change my style completely but, while reflecting on my last performance, I was probably a bit too cautious [against Barboza].”
