Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn admitted Team Catterall had been waiting in frustration for bigger opportunities to materialise.
“We’re waiting for Haney. He’s mandatory for him. And then suddenly, out of nowhere, this opportunity came up, and it’s a great fight for both of them,” Eddie Hearn told iFL TV.
“Giyasov is a tremendous fighter. Well avoided. Jack too. But he’s at the stage in his career where he basically wants to fight anybody.
“Sometimes when you get to number one, there’s always one in between. And that’s the hardest thing to do. This opportunity came up, and when this opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no.”
Catterall has made it clear that he wants no more inactivity while he waits for title fights or negotiations to sort themselves out.
“I’m not prepared at my age now and I feel good. I feel great. I don’t want to sit and wait for the fights. We have to make it happen,” Catterall said.
“It’s all for me. Nothing lies beyond Saturday night. I have to come here on Saturday and put on a show.”
The 31-year-old also admitted that the loss against Arnold Barbosa Jr. changed part of his approach heading into this fight.
“I can’t afford to leave anything up to the judges,” Catterall said Boxing News.
“There are lessons all the time in the gym, out of the gym, in the fights. A lot of time to think and review things. I had a lot of time to work on myself.”
Catterall says he now feels fully settled at welterweight after moving up from 140.
“This will be the third fight at welterweight. I feel good. I feel strong,” said Catterall.
“I’ve grown in weight. It’s not just a case of an easier weight cut. I feel big and strong now at welterweight.”
The former undisputed junior welterweight challenger also revealed that fans could once again see the more aggressive version he showed in his last fight against Eko Essuman.
“I know I have it in me,” Catterall says.
“I feel like being out of the gym last, a change of scenery, to remind myself, and I know I have to do it on Saturday.”
