Josh Taylor has vacated his third world title in a bid to give himself the best chance of securing a rematch with Jack Catterall.
Taylor recorded a controversial split-decision victory over challenger Catterall in their undisputed title clash earlier this year which most observers scored to the challenger. The 'Tartan Tornado' initially planned to move up to 147lb but has decided to remain at his current weight in a bid to set up a second shot for Catterall.
The Scotsman first gave up his WBA title to avoid his mandatory challenge, before also later being forced to forfeit his WBC title rather than face mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda who will now challenge Taylor's previous rival Jose Ramirez for the vacant strap. Taylor has now informed the IBF that he will vacate his title belt as he looks to take another step closer to a second showdown with Catterall.
He was ordered to take on the challenge of Jeremias Ponce if he wanted to keep hold of his belt and put it on the line in any sequel this year but he has now elected to bin the belt which will see just the WBO strap available for Catterall to have a second bite of the cherry at winning.
Catterall had repeatedly called for Taylor to accept his renewed challenge after feeling extremely hard done by that he hadn't had his hand raised when the pair met in Glasgow back in February. However Taylor hit out at Catterall accusing him of being desperate in his pursuit of revenge.
"He's coming across a little bit desperate," Taylor told Sky Sports. "I can understand where he comes from, he felt like he won the fight, I'd be disappointed as well but I wouldn't be moaning and groaning the way he's going on and on, it's just ridiculous.
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"I can understand how he's feeling, he felt like he won the fight, I felt like I did just enough to win the fight so it was a close fight, it could have gone either way, the judges gave it to me. The way he's acted since and the way he's coming across on social media makes me want to shut him up. It's one of the main reasons I stayed at 140 so I could get that fight."
Taylor felt he had done enough to win the fight, but a rematch with Catterall will likely settle the scores. Catterall has since signed a promotional deal with BOXXER in a bid to secure the second showdown. "Yeah definitely [a rematch with Taylor]," he said when asked his plan. "We all saw the controversy over the last fight, and there's definitely something to put to bed with Josh.
"Josh has said and done things after the fight I don't think the public have taken well to, but it is what it is. It's nothing to do with me. Ultimately, I would love to get that fight again and go and settle it."
