FIGHTING TALK: Jack Catterall's exclusive boxing column

This will be one of my toughest weeks in camp ahead of my fight with Martin Gethin.
Jack Catterall (left) fights Diego Gonzalo Luque in the Intercontinental Super-lightweight Championship at Paisley Lagoon Centre, Paisley. Photo credit: Craig Watson/PA WireJack Catterall (left) fights Diego Gonzalo Luque in the Intercontinental Super-lightweight Championship at Paisley Lagoon Centre, Paisley. Photo credit: Craig Watson/PA Wire
Jack Catterall (left) fights Diego Gonzalo Luque in the Intercontinental Super-lightweight Championship at Paisley Lagoon Centre, Paisley. Photo credit: Craig Watson/PA Wire

This will be the last part of the real hard graft.

I’ve got a couple of sparring sessions left, I’ve done more than 100 rounds since January, so I’ve done plenty.

I’ve been in there with a mix of fighters, not really any big names, but we’ve been up to Scotland and different gyms around Manchester, so I’ve had some good preparation.

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I wouldn’t consider this to be my biggest fight neccesarily, but it’s still a great match-up and one that I have to win in good fashion.

I don’t really look at things like that, because you start to put added pressure on yourself.

Martin has had plenty of notice, so he’ll turn up fully fit and it will be a tough contest.

He’s fought at a good domestic level and shared a ring with some very good fighters. Terry Flanagan is a world champion, he’s been in with Derry Mathews and Tommy Coyle too, so that suggests the kind of opposition that he’s been mixing it with.

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He’s been in and around that level for a while. It’s a good test for me to see where I’m at, but it’s one that I’m confident that I’ll come through.

I don’t really worry about what they’ll do. You can sometimes get swamped with too many videos when analysing your opponent.

I know that he’s a come forward fighter, he’s fit and he likes to apply pressure, but he needs to be more worried about what I’m going to bring.

When I come through this one, it’ll open up a lot of doors for me. There are a lot of good fighters in my weight division, both in England and around the world, so there’ll be plenty of opportunities that come my way. I won’t look beyond this fight, though. I’ve got to do the job in style.

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I want to take advantage of the new BT deal with BoxNation. If I apply myself properly, live right and train hard, then there’ll be many big nights ahead and big fights to look forward to.

l Jack, ranked 11th in the world at 140lbs and second with the World Boxing Organisation, defends his WBO Inter-Continental super lightweight title at the Manchester Arena on April 8.

The Chorley southpaw won the vacant strap two years ago when stopping Cesar David Inalef and has since seen off Gabriel Fernando Punalef Calfin, Jarkko Putkonen, Noe Nunez, Joe Hughes and Diego Gonzalo Luque when protecting his crown.

Tickets for the fight are available from 07413 361313. Jack is sponsored by Achill Brewery.