Jack Catterall will fight his fellow Briton Harlem Eubank at welterweight at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on July 5.
As previously reported by BoxingScene, the 31 year old therefore follows his long-term rival Josh Taylor into the 147lbs division, and does so off the back of his split-decision defeat by Arnold Barboza Jnr in February.
Eubank, also 31 and the nephew of the retired Chris Eubank, most recently fought in March when he stopped Tyron McKenna of Northern Ireland in nine rounds.
“This is another huge domestic fight that I can really sink my teeth into,” said Catterall, who has previously recorded one defeat and one victory against Taylor. “After the disappointment of my last fight, I’m grateful to Frank Smith and Eddie Hearn [of promoters Matchroom] for giving me the opportunity to headline again in Manchester.
“I’m eager to put on a big performance and make a statement in my first fight up at welterweight. The Eubank name is hot at the moment but I’m ready to put the fire out in style.”
“This is a fight that’s been on my radar for a long time, and I’m delighted it’s finally happening,” said Eubank, who had previously pursued another significant domestic contest, against Adam Azim. “Jack is a world-class fighter and, in my view — and many others’ — a former undisputed champion.
“These are the elite-level match-ups I’ve been calling for, and make no mistake, I’m ready. They say timing is everything in boxing, and this summer clash couldn’t have come at a better moment in my career.”
Catterall has potentially permanently left behind a weight division in which his promoter also guides the significant figures of Liam Paro, George Kambosos Jnr, and the IBF junior-welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins, and Eddie Hearn said: “[This is] another huge domestic clash for Chorley’s Jack Catterall as he takes on unbeaten Brighton man Harlem Eubank in his first fight up at welterweight.
“Both men are huge names in British boxing and this is a fight that promises to deliver for the fans. Jack has proved that he belongs on the world stage, and this will be his third headliner in a row in Manchester.
“Harlem comes into this fight in red-hot form, looking to prove that he belongs on the biggest stage. We’ll have news on a stacked undercard dropping soon.”
“You can’t beat a domestic dust-up and Catterall vs Eubank has all the makings of a classic,” said Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman, who promotes Eubank.
“Jack has been operating at world level for many years, but Harlem has shown with his recent performances that he now belongs on this stage.
“He is one of the biggest names in British boxing; his rise through the levels has been watched by millions of fans and on July 5, in Manchester, another chapter will be written in the famous Eubank story.”
Taylor, incidentally, fights Ekow Essuman in Glasgow on May 24.