Exclusive: Jack Catterall Eyes Dalton Smith Showdown – But First Must Overcome Harlem Eubank

Jack Catterall admits an all-British clash against Dalton Smith appears to be an inevitability if he beats Harlem Eubank this weekend.

From Chorley, the former world title challenger returns to the ring on Saturday hoping to put his career back on track following February’s defeat to Arnold Barboza Jr.

Despite taking place in the welterweight division, Catterall knows inflicting a first professional defeat on the visitor from Brighton will thrust him back into the conversation at 147lbs.

With Smith also on the cusp of global honours, Catterall admits the pair are destined to meet if he prevails at Manchester Arena.

Speaking exclusively ro SportsBoom.co.uk, he said: “The Dalton fight is building up somewhere. He’s on great form and with the same promoter."

“He’s got a tough fight coming up and I’ll be there to support him. It’s a war of the roses battle for him. I want to be a world champion and he wants to be a world champion. So why not?”

Aged 32, Catterall is one of the most accomplished light-welterweights on the planet despite being yet to secure one of the sport’s major belts. 

AVENGED DEFEAT

After being controversially denied the undisputed championship, when most observers felt he should have been given the decision over the then unbeaten Josh Taylor, Catterall later avenged that loss before also claiming the scalp of Regis Prograis. 

However, his hopes of a shot at WBO king Teofimo Lopez were dashed by a strangely lacklustre performance against Barboza Jr.

Nevertheless, Catterall remains highly regarded by all of the four major sanctioning bodies. The meeting with Eubank, Chris Eubank Jr’s cousin, is for the IBF Inter-Continental welterweight strap.

Smith, who is based in Sheffield, is the number one contender to WBC title holder Alberto Puello and hopes to meet the Dominican later this year.

Like Catterall, he is promoted by Matchroom. Their chairman, Eddie Hearn, has volubly pressed the claims of both men and, having established an excellent working relationship with boxing’s new powerbrokers in Saudi Arabia, has never shied away from pitting his clients against one another; particularly if it enhances their earning potential.

Catterall boasts an enviable reputation for accepting whatever challenge is put in front of him and, despite outlining his respect for Smith, would jump at the chance of facing him if the latter dethrones Puello.

STIFF TEST

But Eubank, whose uncle Chris famously won the world middleweight and super-middleweight titles, is expected to pose a stiff test. 

He won one of the IBF’s junior prizes after conquering Tyrone McKenna via a 10th round technical knockout four months ago.

Kalle Sauerland, Eubank’s promoter, insisted all the pressure will be on Catterall when they lock horns, saying: “For me, this is do or die for Jack. Harlem has the Eubank name on his shoulder and he has to carry that."

“Jack is a real gentleman. He’s a wonderful ambassador for boxing. But, where he’s at, I think this is everything for him."

"It’s not the same for Harlem and I wouldn’t sell it as that. For Jack, I think this is.”