Arnold Barboza Jr. Triumphs Over Jack Catterall in Split Decision Match

Arnold Barboza Jr. emerged victorious in a closely contested bout against Jack Catterall, securing the WBO Interim super-lightweight championship at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. The split decision win puts Barboza in line for a potential clash with full WBO champion Teofimo Lopez, should Lopez choose to defend his title within the mandated 180-day timeframe.

The judges’ scorecards reflected the tight nature of the fight, with Leszek Jankowiak and Patrick Morley both scoring it 115-113 for Barboza, while Marcus McDonnell saw it 115-113 in Catterall’s favor. Barboza, now undefeated at 32-0 (11 KOs), expressed surprise at the close margin, stating he believed he had won more rounds convincingly.

The match began cautiously, with Catterall adopting a defensive approach in the early rounds. As the fight progressed, Barboza increased his tempo, landing effective body shots and hooks that began to show visible effects on Catterall’s face. The final rounds were evenly matched, with both fighters claiming victory at the final bell.

Catterall, whose record now stands at 30-2 (13 KOs), graciously acknowledged Barboza’s win and expressed hope that his opponent would go on to challenge for the world title against Teofimo Lopez. The result sets the stage for an intriguing matchup in the super-lightweight division, with fans eagerly anticipating Barboza’s next move in his quest for undisputed championship status.