JACK Catterall has no plans to go the full distance, insisting he will stop ‘average’ Arnold Barboza Jnr inside 12 rounds on Saturday night.
The Chorley fighter, nicknamed ‘El Gato’, faces the American at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester in their super lightweight world title eliminator.
While Catterall says he respects Barboza Jnr, he questioned the quality of fighters he had been up against and said he is in for a shock when they go head-to-head at the weekend.
“Of course I respect his ability,” Catterall said. “Again, he’s said it before, he’s been working hard to get to this position. I’ll stand on what I said - I don’t think he’s a great fighter.
“I think he’s average, a B class fighter. I can only think of two opponents that he’s boxed.
“Sean McComb, who beat him, and Ramirez - who I didn’t think was in the best form that night. None the less, give him his credit, he turned up and did what he had to do. It’s a whole different ball game next weekend.
He added: “We’ve watched tape of him and we’ve been studying. We’ve been working hard in the gym and every fight now I feel like we’ve been getting better, with the activity of these big headline fights.
“I’ll see what happens on fight night. Until the first bell goes, and I see his response, this is a big opportunity, not just for me but for both of us. I’m not leaving it to the judges next Saturday. I believe I stop him, 100 per cent.”
The pair met at the most recent face off leading up to the contest and Catterall told Barboza Jnr he has been working hard since beating Regis Prograis in October at the same venue.
“You’ve never seen 12 rounds and you’re not going to see the 12 round distance next Saturday,” Catterall told Barboza. “I think he knows what he’s up against.
“Listen, we don’t get to this stage in these big fights by overlooking the opponents. I think he’s in for a shock next Saturday. I’m in good form.
“We got straight back in the gym after the Prograis fight and we’ve been grafting. Things have gone great this camp and I’m going to show it next Saturday. I respect what you’ve done in your journey to get here but it all ends next Saturday.”
But Barboza Jr is in confident mood and is confident he can upset the Chorley fighter - and says he will thrive on being the target of the boo-boys.
“I’ve been calling for this fight since 2022 when I met him at the Ramirez and Taylor fight, that’s where we met,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity. All of his home support booing me is going to turn me on. It’s something that I’ve dreamed about. This is a fight that I’ve been waiting for my whole career. I worked hard to get here - just like him. Let’s get it on.
“I feel like my whole career I’ve been the underdog. Even when I’m the favourite, I feel like I’ve been overlooked my whole career. People are finally starting to see who Barboza really is. Come February 15th my hand will be raised and that belt will be coming home with me.
“I’m an overall better fighter than him. He calls me a B level fighter but the only thing special about him is that he’s hefty. That’s it. We’ll find out. We can talk and do all that but February 15th is when we will find out. It’s around the corner.
“He can say Ramirez is past his best and I can say the same thing about the last three victories he just had.
“Linares retired after their fight, Regis was going to retire after their fight. Josh Taylor had a messed up knee. He can say all he wants, I don’t think he’s ever faced anyone like me. He’s going to find out February 15t
“He doesn’t win this fight inside the distance. He doesn’t win this fight; it’s that simple. If there’s going to be a stoppage it’s going to be me stopping him.
“We’re going to see. I’m overall better than him at everything. The only thing that makes you different is you’re a lefty, that’s it, you’re average bro.
“People don’t know what they’re going to get when it comes to me because I can do it all. I’m going to make you look average.”
