Ben Shalom has remained coy on a high-profile rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
Taylor recorded a controversial victory over Catterall earlier this year in his undisputed title defence which left the latter aggrieved with the judges after losing by split decision. The 'Tartan Tornado' was expected to move up to welterweight and vacate his belts but he is now keen to settle the scores and hand his domestic counterpart an immediate rematch.
Catterall has recently been piling the pressure on his rival to accept the second meeting, with the pair feuding on social media. BOXXER promoter Shalom believes the fight should happen but is waiting on both parties to sit down at the negotiating table. "It is a fight that after what happened we felt should happen," Shalom told Mirror Fighting courtesy of Bet365 in an exclusive chat when assessing a potential rematch between the pair.
"We expected Josh to move up from that weight in that moment as he didn't look right at that weight. But given his eagerness to have that fight, it is a great fight and it should happen. Whether it can happen will come down to promoters and getting everyone around to make sure it happens, but I felt sorry for Jack. He deserves an opportunity whether it is against Josh or if it is for world titles again.
"He put on a performance of a lifetime that night and he was coming up against someone who many people widely considered the best fighter in Britain and he pulled off a masterclass. I do think he deserves an opportunity for world titles but it is not Josh Taylor's fault what happened. As long as Josh progresses and Jack gets new opportunities to put things right, I will be happy."
The undisputed champion's split decision victory was subject to intense scrutiny, with the British Boxing Board of Control launching an official investigation into the judges' scorecards. Local MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle of Chorley even referred the case to the police for another official inquiry after his hometown fighter was left distraught by proceedings.
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Catterall has remained defiant since the fight and believes he has the capability to prove he can beat Taylor in a second meeting. And the former challenger believes it is time to move on from the event despite sending letters demanding action for the result.
“I believe he’s under a lot of pressure, from the public as well, for this fight to happen,” Catterall told talkSPORT Fight Night. “Let’s make no mistake, he’s lost a lot of support since the fight. I think the way he’s carried himself and his words and his actions post-fight. I don’t think there’s any fight for him there at welterweight at the minute, and there’s certainly no one else at 140.
“We drew a line under it. We couldn’t change the decision. I think they demoted a referee. There was a couple of letters back-and-forth, but it is what it is. I said it at the time, they stole the moment in time from me."
