All three judges awarded the decision to Catterall, with scores of 69-65, 69-66, and 69-66, bestowing him with Eubank’s IBF Inter-Continental belt that he had won in his last fight with Tyrone McKenna.
“The fight was going how I expected it to go. I was breaking him down,” said the Chorley champion, “El Gato”. “It’s not the way I wanted to win.”
Fighting at welterweight for the first time, Catterall expressed relief at returning to winning ways after a loss to unbeaten American Arnold Barboza Jr earlier this year – a defeat that cost him a shot at the WBO super-lightweight world title.
Brighton’s Eubank, the nephew of British boxing legend Chris Eubank Sr, suffered the first defeat of his pro career in his 22nd bout. The 31-year-old immediately called for a rematch, claiming he was on track for a “spectacular stoppage victory”.
The mind games began before the opening bell, when Catterall sent Conor Benn – who was defeated by Harlem’s cousin, Chris Eubank Jr, in their April grudge match – to be present during Eubank’s hand-wrapping.
“Didn’t want to miss this,” Benn quipped during the awkward encounter, before returning to Catterall’s dressing room to report, “[Eubank’s] head has gone”, as the pair embraced.
Inside the ring, Eubank smiled nervously through a tentative opening as Catterall, as widely expected, edged the early rounds with his superior skill and ring IQ, though without fully imposing himself.
Wasserman’s Eubank, who has gained popularity through his appearances on Channel 5, began to land single shots, but it was apparent he was second best against the more accomplished fighter.
With career wins over Josh Taylor, Jorge Linares, and Regis Prograis, Catterall’s class was clear.
But the pair tumbled to the canvas in the third stanza, and then again in a messy sixth. Then came the accidental clash between southpaw and orthodox.
The home favourite returned to his corner to have the blood wiped away. Given the severity of Catterall’s cut, the bout was waved off at one second into the seventh, prompting boos from a 5,000 strong crowd.
Afterwards, promoter Eddie Hearn dismissed talk of a rematch and said Catterall would be manoeuvred back into world title contention.
Joe Cordina vs Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz
Former super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina returned from a 14-month lay-off with a hard-fought points win over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz to claim the vacant WBO global lightweight title.
The 33-year-old Welshman, who lost his IBF title to Anthony Cacace in May 2024, had to dig deep against the quick-handed and spirited 24-year-old Mexican.
Despite some ring rust, Cordina’s experience and boxing craft saw him through to a unanimous decision, with scorecards of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.
Cordina had been set to face Shakur Stevenson for the WBC title last October before the American withdrew through injury.
Back on track, Cordina said he was now hoping to fight again as soon as possible.
Earlier, Australian former WBC featherweight world champion Skye Nicolson, 29, stopped Bolivia’s Carla Camila Campos Gonzales in the second round of their super-bantamweight bout.
Manchester cruiserweight Pat Brown extended his perfect professional record with a dominant first-round stoppage of Lewis Oakford.
Just two weeks after securing his second win, the 25-year-old made it three from three in emphatic fashion, landing a series of unanswered punches that forced the referee to step in.
Heavyweight debutant Leo Atang was equally explosive, securing a first-round stoppage of journeyman Milen Paunov.
The 18-year-old from York – standing 6ft 6in tall – dropped Paunov, 41, with a punishing body shot before finishing the bout with a clinical flurry.
“I believe that is the start of a journey to a world heavyweight championship,” said promoter Eddie Hearn, comparing Atang to two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
Who is Harlem Eubank?
