Jack Catterall says his upcoming welterweight title fight against Shakhram Giyasov was not something he expected to land so quickly, even with the division opening up around him following his move to 147.
“This fight really could have come out of the blue. But what an opportunity for just one focus to get this title. Camp was good. Good sparring, good work in the gym, strength, track, everything. We talked it out well,” Catterall told Matchroom Boxing, discussing his call to fight Shakhram Giyasov on the May 23 card.
“It’s now a little over a week and a half before we fly over to Egypt. It’s a big opportunity for me in the WBA regular world title. Very grateful for the opportunity, but also very confident to go there and secure it.”
Catterall and Giyasov will fight for the vacant WBA ‘ordinary’ welterweight title on the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven card this Saturday at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Catterall also admitted he didn’t know much about Giyasov before the fight was over, but said his team had spent time studying the undefeated Uzbek rival during camp.
“Shaka (Shakhram) unfortunately fought six southpaws. So there is a lot of footage of him fighting southpaws,” Catterall said. “I wasn’t too aware of him until the fight was announced, but now we’ve had time to go away, look and work on what we need to do.”
The former light welterweight contender believes the extra time at welterweight has helped him physically after years of struggling to cut weight at 140.
“I’ve had time now. It’s been coming for a year, so I’ve had time to go into it and do things right. Be strong on the weight,” says Catterall.
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Last updated on 2026/05/19 at 01:11
