Josh Taylor has vowed to resurrect his career and ‘smash’ Jack Catterall to prove he still belongs among the elite talents in world boxing.<br /><br />The bitter rivals clashed in Edinburgh at a promotional event for their grudge rematch, which is to be held in Leeds on April 27.<br /><br />In a typically fiery exchange, they had to be separated by security after Englishman Catterall grabbed Taylor by the throat.<br /><br />It was almost a carbon copy of what happened at the weigh-in for their first about two years ago, which Taylor won thanks to a hugely controversial split decision.<br /><br />Catterall has claimed that Taylor is now a spent force, with the Scot losing his unbeaten record and the last of his four light-welterweight world titles to Teofimo Lopez in New York last year.<br /><br />The 33-year-old Scot admits that he has a point to prove, but is determined to reignite his career by setting the record straight against his English rival.<br /><br />‘I do have a point to prove – because my last two performances have been c***,’ said Taylor. ‘I need to produce the goods this time. Otherwise, it’s a question of where do I go.<br /><br />‘Do I go back to fighting down a level? I wouldn’t let myself do that because I know I’m one of the best fighters in the world. I need to produce the goods this time.<br /><br />‘There’s no belts this time. This will be a good display of boxing. I’m going down there to smash him to bits and put him back to bed.<br /><br />‘It’s a crossroads fight. I have a point to prove and be back to my best to win this fight and keep my career on the go.’<br /><br />This will be Taylor’s fourth fight in three years, a period of inactivity that has led many to question whether he can still cut it at the top level of boxing.<br /><br />He became the unified champion at light welterweight after beating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas in May 2021, before looking laboured in his two subsequent performances against Catterall and Lopez.<br /><br />On the idea that he’s been well below his best, Taylor said: ‘Yeah, I think that’s a fair comment. It wasn’t the best version of me against Jack.<br /><br />‘It was a terrible performance from me – and not a very good one from him either with all the holding and spoiling. He was just cuddling me at times.<br /><br />‘I hope we get a referee this time who doesn’t allow that intense kind of spoiling tactics. It’s a fight and we should be showing our skills.<br /><br />‘I’ve not shown up and not been great in the last couple of fights, that’s probably fair.<br /><br />‘But how many fighters in the past have had a couple of bad nights, but then come back even stronger? I fully expect to be back to my best.’<br /><br />A fight two years in the making as Taylor and Catterall traded insults on social media, the bout has been billed with the tagline of ‘Hate Runs Deep’.<br /><br />Both fighters were quick to play down the notion of any genuine hatred, albeit there is undeniable bad blood on both sides.<br /><br />
