Jack Catterall v Arnold Barboza Jr

Venue: Co-op Live, Manchester Date: Saturday, 15 February

Jack Catterall is the best active fighter in Britain who has not won a world title, and it would be a massive injustice if he never does.

He has shown he is good enough and can be dominant at the top level. When he is good, he is brilliant.

At 31, he is still young and fresh enough to reach that goal. But with every passing month and year, you become slower, older and more jaded.

It is not just about the hard fights, but the training and mental stimulation. The politics and things out of the ring suck away at you, take their toll and take away your aspirations.

Catterall – who faces Arnold Barboza Jr in Manchester on Saturday – should have become undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2022 against Josh Taylor.

Even though Taylor is one of my favourite fighters in recent memory, the ‘Tartan Tornado’ lost that fight, despite the judges scoring it otherwise.

If Catterall is a glass half-empty type of guy, maybe even winning one belt now will not be enough – he will probably never get the chance to become an undisputed champion.

I was not always convinced Catterall would reach the heights of boxing. I was unsure about his drive and desire, and that uncertainty was because of his personality.

He is charismatic and a good-looking kid, but he is not an outrageous headline grabber and would not really put himself out there.

He reminded me a little bit of Joe Calzaghe, who was reluctant to do any sponsorship events unless he knew somebody there. In fact, I once got a sponsored car from Joe not going to places and me going instead.

But Catterall has proved me wrong and my assessment may have been a little bit disrespectful. Just because he is a nice guy does not mean he is not tough. He has shown he is one of the toughest fighters out there and is willing to go to war.

In his performances in the two fights with Taylor, for example, he boxed like his normal self but with more ambition.

When he outpointed Regis Prograis in October, Catterall put his foot on the gas when he had the opportunity in a mature, experienced and skilled performance.

The problem is that because Catterall is such a thinking fighter, he can sometimes be overcautious and let himself down.

As a coach, you have to be happy because he does not take unnecessary risks, but sometimes as a fan you want more.

I was a safety-first fighter, so I understand that, but it holds you back from stoppages and people taking notice of you.

Barboza Jr is a good fighter and if he gets an opportunity to slow you down then he could be a hard night’s work, but I think Catterall’s movement, jab and patience will frustrate him.

WBO champion Teofimo Lopez has been ordered to fight the winner – who will be the governing body’s ‘interim’ champion – within 180 days. If Lopez decides to move up the divisions, either Catterall or Barboza could then be upgraded to replace him.

Nobody would begrudge Catterall if he was elevated to world champion, but it is ludicrous and stupid. It spoils it for the fighters, who dream of hearing the words “and the new”.

Either just make this a final eliminator or make it for the vacant title and strip Lopez if he does not plan to stay in the division.

However, I do believe Catterall will become a world champion one way or another. The WBC champion Albert Puella is a good but beatable fighter and Catterall would fancy his chances. As he would against Jose Valenzuela, who holds the WBA belt.

When you get to my age and reflect on your career, you look at whether you ticked every box. To be financially secure and to win a world title are the two main boxes.

I won a world title in 1997 – back when I had hair – but even now when I go back home, people still shout out “hi champ”. Without the world title I would just be Barry Jones who used to box.

Catterall will always feel his career is unfulfilled until he has that world title around his waist, because being a world champion stays with you forever.