Jack Catterall has shared the ring with two fighting legends in Floyd Mayweather and Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
Chorley’s super-lightweight contender Catterall has not yet picked up a world title despite most thinking he should have become the undisputed ruler after his controversial loss to Josh Taylor on points in 2022. The pair rematched this year and he picked up a deserved unanimous decision win but, by then, no belts were on the line.
‘El Gato’s skills are undeniable, and some of that can be put down to vital rounds behind closed doors against some of boxing’s best in which he sharpened his tools, learned some tricks and gained experience fighting on the road.
In some cases, sparring can also be an extra source of income for fighters, and heavyweight Dave Allen enjoys covering that topic on his YouTube channel. He first asked Catterall about his experience in the Mayweather gym.
“It was the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, I sparred Floyd first, summer 2015, my first proper training camp abroad. The deal was fly over, spar, if he wants to keep you on he will. We paid for the flights and the travel. I was going out for that experience and to test myself.”
The deal was you turn up to the gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 3 pm. He had probably 10 sparring partners hitting the bag. He’d roll up half 3, 4, sometimes 5 o’clock. It’s not ideal but you’re on wages, hitting the bag, waiting about. He’d pick who he wanted for that day. I was sparring there for eight weeks.
“The first day I turned up, got picked and sparred him. Sparring Canelo, I felt miles out of my depth. But with Floyd, he’s come out and I caught him with a lead right hook, then it was game on and he started pressing and walking forward but there was times I was having lots of success.”
He then revealed what he got paid by Mayweather’s team at a time when he was only fighting on small hall shows back home.
“It was $2500 a week.”
Shortly after, and three weeks before ‘Canelo’ fought James Kirkland, Caterall went to spar with the Mexican.
“They paid for our flight back and forth. The deal sparring was Monday, Wednesday, Friday in his gym, in his house in the mountains. I knew I wanted to practice and get better. His coach came over and said he wants to use you for speed and movement. I got a few instructions and he sparred eight four-minute rounds, the last four with me. I found he was very respectful. He was slipping and rolling.”
Although the experience may have been better, Catterall received less pay.
“Less than Mayweather. It was $1750 for two weeks including flights and we got 50 extra dollars a day.”
