Jack Catterall suffers split decision loss for Arnold Barboza JR who denies the British hunter a world title fight | Boxing news

Jack Catterall was refused a world title shot after a split loss of decision for Arnold Barboza JR in Manchester.

Catterall wanted to earn a mandatory match for the WBO sup light weight belt of Teofimo Lopez, but Barboza JR released him on the score cards, and earned three long from 115-113 to secure the WBO interim belt and a fight with his countryman.

Both hunters enjoyed spells of success in a poetry meeting, with Barboza JR relieved that referee Steve Gray reigned a slip after tumbling to the Canvas in round 10.

Catterall was unable to reduce the small shortage on the score cards because he suffered his second defeat, because a very controversial loss of points for Josh Taylor in 2022.

On the Undercard, Reece Bellotti defended his British and Commonwealth Super-Fedweight titles with a 10th round stop page victory over Michael Gomez Jr.

Bellotti was made to wait for Gomez Jr, who had withdrawn due to poor health in the night of their previously planned fight.

But Bellotti continued his career revival by floors Gomez JNR with body shots in the fifth and eighth rounds before the Lancashire boxer was pulled by his corner team for the 10th.

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