As the heated feud between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall continues, Leeds becomes the battleground for this so-called significant rematch. Dubbed “Hate Runs Deep,” the First Direct Arena was the stage for their intense first face-off, setting the tone for what’s expected to be another ordinary fight night this Saturday, May 25. If you’re a fan of bickering and long-standing grudges.
Eddie Hearn, seemingly never short of a comment, piped up about the fight’s importance amid a typically packed British boxing calendar. “I can’t wait,” he declared, hinting that the previous events and upcoming 5vs5 are merely appetizers for this “biggest British fight of the year.” The arena will supposedly be packed with 11,000 souls ready to watch some men settle old scores in a ring.
Hearn continued to inflate expectations, claiming, “You don’t even need to talk about it anymore,” as if the fight sells itself. Despite the predictable hype, he paints a picture of a fight fueled by raw emotions rather than strategic finesse. According to Hearn, both fighters are past the point of careful planning and just want to clash until someone drops, which could mean a slightly more entertaining evening than your usual tactical snooze fest.
Beyond the main event, the undercard is filled with fighters whose names might ring a bell if you’re deep into the boxing scene. From a vacant British Cruiserweight Title fight to various Continental Title bouts, there seems to be something for everyone—if you’re into that sort of thing.
WEIGHTS: (ESPN+, 3:15 p.m. ET/12:15 p.m. PT)
• Josh Taylor 139.6 lbs. vs. Jack Catterall 139.8 lbs (Junior Welterweight – 12 Rounds) Referee: Kevin Parker Judges: Kieran McCann, Mark Bates and Lee Every
• Cheavon Clarke 199.3 lbs vs. Ellis Zorro 198.6 lbs (Vacant British Cruiserweight Title— 12 Rounds)
• Paddy Donovan 145.4 lbs vs. Lewis Ritson 146.8 lbs (Welterweight — 10 Rounds)
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, May 25
Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds
Start Time: 7 PM (UK Time), 2 PM (ET)
Streaming: DAZN (UK and worldwide), ESPN+ (U.S. only)
FIGHT CARD FOR TAYLOR VS. CATTERALL 2 IN LEEDS
Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall – Main Event
Cheavon Clarke (8-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) – Vacant British Cruiserweight Title
Paddy Donovan (13-0, 10 KOs) vs. Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs) – WBA Continental Welterweight Title
Gary Cully (17-1, 10 KOs) vs. Francesco Patera (29-4, 11 KOs) – WBA Continental Lightweight Title
Giorgio Visioli (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Sergio Odabai (6-3-1, 3 KOs) – Lightweight, 6 rounds
George Liddard (6-0, 3 KOs) vs. Graham McCormack (9-3-1, 1 KO) – Middleweight, 8 rounds
Leli Buttigieg (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Anas Isarti (4-2) – Super-Welterweight, Before The Bell action
