Jack Catterall secured a technical decision victory over Harlem Eubank after their all-British welterweight clash was abruptly halted due to a severe accidental head clash at the AO Arena in Manchester on July 5, 2025. The fight was stopped just before the start of the seventh round after both fighters sustained nasty cuts above their eyes, with Catterall's injury proving particularly severe.
Referee Bob Williams, following advice from the ringside doctors, called off the bout after six completed rounds. Since the cuts resulted from an accidental clash of heads and the fight had passed the fourth round, the outcome went to the scorecards. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Catterall by wide margins: 69-65, 69-66, and 69-66.
The 32-year-old Chorley southpaw controlled much of the action, dictating pace and distance throughout the contest. Catterall's tactical approach saw him frequently land his left hand and utilize an effective jab, managing to keep Eubank at bay and slow the tempo. Despite a slow start, Catterall's experience and ring intelligence were evident as he broke down his opponent round by round.
Eubank, the 31-year-old Brighton fighter and cousin of Chris Eubank Jr., showed flashes of promise, particularly in the fourth round where he landed a stinging left hook. He also connected with a long right hand in the fifth round, but these moments were too sporadic to sway the judges. Both fighters demonstrated caution, with neither willing to take excessive risks, resulting in a measured battle.
However, the fight took a dramatic turn in the sixth round. With just 30 seconds remaining, the two boxers accidentally clashed heads, leaving Catterall with a horrific cut above his right eye and Eubank with a lesser injury over his left. Despite the severity of the wounds, both men initially wished to continue. Catterall's cutman, Kerry Kayes, worked diligently during the break, and the ringside doctor cleared the fight to proceed.
Yet, after further consultation at the start of round seven, the referee decided to halt the bout, citing the dangerous nature of Catterall's injury. The crowd of around 5,000 expressed their displeasure with boos as the fight was stopped prematurely, much to the disappointment of fans eager for a full contest.
In the immediate aftermath, Catterall expressed mixed emotions. "The fight was going how I expected it to go, we were breaking him down," he said. "It's frustrating not being able to get the rounds and go through them gears like I anticipated, but it's a head clash. Not the way I wanted to win, but happy to be back in the win column." This victory marked Catterall's return to winning ways after two consecutive defeats, including a loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. earlier in 2025 that cost him a shot at the light-welterweight world title.
Eubank, meanwhile, called for an immediate rematch, confident he was gaining momentum before the stoppage. "There has to be a rematch. Fair play to Jack he didn't call the fight off but you saw what I was doing in there," he stated. "I was coming into the fight beautifully. We need to run it back right now. The decision went against me because they cut the fight short." He added, "I was landing clean, flush right hands, and he came in with his head and caused the cut. I was ready to go in round seven, we were building into the fight beautifully, executing the game plan. I felt like I was world-class in there, and I didn’t get the result tonight." Despite Eubank's call, Catterall's promoter Eddie Hearn indicated plans to move the Chorley fighter toward world title opportunities instead of a rematch. "For us, he wants to move on and try and get himself in a position to challenge for a world title," Hearn said. "You have got Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker coming up. That looks like it could be for the IBF world title with Boots moving up, and we want to get Jack in that position. I would have liked to see the fight go on, but that is not the way it works. It was a big head clash, two horrendous cuts, it goes to the scorecards, and it was the right decision. For us, we move on to world titles, but Harlem rematch or no rematch, he has big fights ahead of him."
The fight was also notable for pre-fight mind games. Catterall sent Conor Benn, who lost to Harlem's cousin Chris Eubank Jr. earlier this year, to oversee Eubank's hand-wrapping. Benn quipped, "Didn't want to miss this," during the encounter, adding a layer of tension before the bout.
In addition to the main event, the night featured several other notable performances. Joe Cordina, the former IBF super featherweight champion, returned to the ring after a 14-month layoff to claim a unanimous decision victory over the tough Mexican Jaret Gonzalez. Cordina's scorecards read 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92, marking a solid comeback after losing his title to Anthony Cacace in May 2024.
Former WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson also impressed with a second-round stoppage of Carla Camila Campos Gonzales, showcasing her power and precision. Meanwhile, Manchester cruiserweight Pat Brown extended his unbeaten record to 3-0 with a dominant first-round TKO over Lewis Oakford, and 18-year-old heavyweight prospect Leo Atang made a statement by knocking out journeyman Milen Paunov in the first round. Promoter Eddie Hearn compared Atang to two-time world champion Anthony Joshua, calling it "the start of a journey to a world heavyweight championship."
As for Catterall, the severity of his cut has raised concerns among boxing experts. Former world champions Carl Frampton and Tony Bellew weighed in, with Frampton remarking, "That will definitely need plastic surgery. It's so deep. There's no chance that that can be simply stitched up. Ten or twelve stitches won't do." Bellew added, "One hundred per cent, he'll need a specialist to sort that out."
Looking ahead, Catterall now holds the IBF intercontinental welterweight title and appears poised to challenge for the vacant IBF world title, potentially facing the winner of the upcoming bout between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, both signed with Matchroom Boxing. Meanwhile, Eubank's call for a rematch remains unanswered, leaving fans eager to see if the two will meet again under less contentious circumstances.
In a night marked by intense action, unexpected twists, and emerging stars, the Manchester AO Arena once again proved to be a vibrant stage for British boxing's next chapter. While the premature end to the main event left some questions unanswered, the prospects for both Catterall and Eubank remain bright as they navigate the competitive welterweight landscape.
