Teddy Atlas Shares Thoughts On Catterall vs. Barboza Jr. – ‘He’s Going To Live Or Die’
Teddy Atlas gave his take on the Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. fight as they face off on February 15.
Catterall knows a victory makes him the WBO Interim Junior Welterweight Champion, thus becoming mandatory for the full champion Teofimo Lopez. Catterall has bounced back impressively since his controversial split decision loss to Josh Taylor, which prevented him from becoming undisputed at 140. He has beaten three former world champions on the spin, including Taylor in the rematch and Regis Prograis in his last fight.
Barboza Jr. has never lost a boxing bout, as he has a 31-0 record. He only has 11 KOs to his name, as Catterall will fancy his chances. But he is an experienced customer, having been in the ring with former world champion Jose Pedraza. He has a win over Pedraza, as he aims to upset the apple cart in front of Cattrall’s home fans. Here is how Atlas saw the fight playing out.
Atlas Reacts
“All right, very interesting, because Barbosa used to be more of a go-get you kind of guy. And all of a sudden now he’s become a counter puncher, a boxer, you know, in his last fight, in his last win, he boxed, and he did a good job. He used his legs. He boxed with the former champion. Barboza stayed on the outside. He jabbed, you know, he didn’t come and attack. And the funny thing about that, if that’s going to stay his approach, if he’s going to stake, if that’s his new identity, if that’s his identity, if he’s going to be consistent with that going into this fight.
Well, Catterall makes his living counter punching. That’s what he does. I mean, he’s always done that. You know? He doesn’t rent space out in that area. He owns that area. He’s a counter puncher, pure and simple and, so it’ll be a battle of two counter punchers if that happens. I go with the guy who knows what he is, Catterall knows he’s a counter puncher. He’s going to stay, he’s going to live or die with that.
“Barbosa, he’s a guy who, one minute, I’m not saying one minute, but you know, just for the sake of putting it across and explaining it this way, quick, one minute, he’s aggressive, now he’s a counter puncher. I’m going to go with the guy who knows what he is, and always has been that. The counterpuncher to win a counterpunching fight. If Barboza decides to come in here, counterpunch if Barboza decides to move, Catterall will win the battle of counter punching, because he’s been a counter puncher longer and he’s home. Boom, boom, bang, bang, that’s it,” Teddy Atlas
Full Card
Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr.
Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens
Pat McCormack vs Robbie Davies Jr.
William Crolla vs Ayoub Zakari
Conner Tudsbury vs Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano
Aqib Fiaz vs Lydon Chircop
Alfie Middlemiss vs Caine Singh
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