Barboza Jr defeats Catterall and earns a world title shot

Arnold Barboza Jr (32-0, 11 KOs) defeated Jack Catterall (30-2, 13 KOs) via split decision in Manchester on Saturday night (February 15) and earned the right to fight Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) for WBO World super-lightweight title.

Barboza Jr with the win against Catterall won the WBO Interim World super-lightweight title.

After tough battle two judges saw Barboza Jr as winner (115:113) and one saw Catterall as winner (115:113).  

“I honestly didn’t have it that close. I thought I [won] more rounds but this is his backyard, man,” Barboza said in the ring afterward.

“Since I been little, I didn’t care about fitting in, I just wanted respect since I was a kid. I got my respect today; my father got his respect today.”