UNDISPUTED boxing world champion Josh Taylor’s homecoming title defence against Jack Catterall has been postponed after the East Lothian fighter suffered an injury in training.
The Prestonpans boxer was due to defend all four of his belts – WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF World Super Lightweight – at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena seven days before Christmas.
However, the fight has now been pushed back until February 26 after Taylor hurt his knee in training.
The defence against the unbeaten Catterall was to be Taylor’s first since he defeated Jose Carlos Ramirez to unify the super lightweight division.
Taylor, 30, said: “I’m gutted I won’t be able to defend my title on December 18 as originally planned, but I wanted to make sure I was 100 per cent healthy to give my incredible fans the show they deserve.
“This homecoming has been a long time in the making and it will be worth the wait.
“I will see everyone on February 26.”
The announcement came five years to the day since Taylor, who now lives in Haddington, won his first professional title.
On October 21, 2016, Taylor fought Dave Ryan at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre for the vacant Commonwealth Super Lightweight title.
Taylor had Ryan down in the third round before the fight was stopped two rounds later.
Since then, the former Preston Lodge High School pupil has gone on to lift a number of other belts, including the WBC Silver Super Lightweight title after victory over Ohara Davies.
He won his first world title – the IBF World Super Lightweight title – by defeating Ivan Baranchyk at the Hydro before adding the WBA version of the belt when he beat Regis Prograis in the final of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS).
Taylor then unified the division by defeating Ramirez in Las Vegas in May. Catterall, 28, had been due to face Ramirez but stepped aside to allow the unification bout to take place with a view to facing the winner.
Undefeated in 26 bouts, the Chorley man has also defeated former Taylor opponent Davies.
Catterall said: “Everything happens for a reason.
“I am gutted not just for me but for everyone who had planned to go.
“I will remain professional and continue working for the new date.
“2022, I will be world champion. “Obstacles like this are nothing new for me.
“I will turn the frustration into positive energy.”
The rearranged bout will be screened live in the UK on Sky Sports.
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