IT may have been one of the year’s messier main events but Harlem Eubank’s promoter Kalle Sauerland believes his man proved something against Jack Catterall last night.
Eubank jumped up a few levels to take on Jack Catterall at Manchester’s AO Arena over 12 rounds. Catterall, a former undisputed super-lightweight title challenger, made his debut at welterweight (147lbs) where Eubank has been campaigning since November 2024.
Catterall started as the odds-on favourite to beat Eubank but both men never really showed their best in a scrappy fight that saw them fall to the floor more than once.
An accidental clash of heads in round seven resulted in nasty cuts for the two. Catterall’s was inspected by a ringside physician in the final seconds, and although he was allowed to carry on Eubank and his own cut were not. The result was a technical decision victory for Catterall who had been ahead on all three scorecards (69-66, 69-66 and 69-65).
“It’s gutting for both guys,” Sauerland told Boxing News afterwards.
“No-one will feel like they’ve walked out with a win or a loss. Everyone wanted to prove a point tonight.”
Eubank called for a second fight in his post-fight interview with DAZN believing he was denied a career-changing win.
“I was warming into the fight; I was landing clean, flush right hands, and then [Catterall] came in with his head, which caused the cut,” Eubank said.
“There has to be a rematch. I did exactly what I was meant to do in there tonight, and the decision went against me because [the fight] got cut short.
“The ref stopped me from getting a spectacular stoppage victory.”
An honest Sauerland admitted the fight was not easy on the eye.
“I didn’t find the action enthralling. It wasn’t, exactly, seat gripping stuff. Let’s not beat around the bush. It was scrappy. They both landed clean shots. What would have been interesting would have been to see it go further.”
Despite the disappointment Sauerland did take one positive from the night.
“We know Harlem Eubank belongs at the very top of the game,” he said.
“He’s fought a world-class operator tonight for at least half a fight and certainly, for me, done enough to win rounds. He’s hurt him, he’s got hurt as well.
“There’s lots of routes to world titles, there’s lots of big domestic clashes to set up.”
