Jack Catterall will prepare for his fight with Shakhram Giyasov under Stephen Smith and John Gillies but is open to reuniting with Derek “Bozy” Ennis thereafter.
The 32-year-olds contest the WBA “regular” welterweight title on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt on May 23, but a combination of the time Catterall has to prepare to do so, and the logistics involved in working under Ennis in Philadelphia before heading to Egypt – and at a time when Ennis is also committed to preparing his son Jaron “Boots” for the biggest fight of his career, against Xander Zayas on June 27 – means he will train in Liverpool, England instead.
Catterall, of nearby Chorley, England, made the most significant decision of his career when he left his long-term trainer, the Manchester-based Jamie Moore, to work under the highly regarded Ennis. He was rewarded for doing so with November’s victory over Ekow Essuman, and therefore May’s date with Uzbekistan’s Giyasov, and regardless of the outcome of his next fight will consider working with Ennis again, as he expected to do when he was previously on course to fight Jose Carlos Ramirez.
Smith, whose finest years as a fighter came under Joe Gallagher, has impressed in the early stages of his career as a trainer and assistant trainer. He has led Charlie Edwards and Chantelle Cameron to victories, and also assisted the experienced Buddy McGirt with his brother, the light heavyweight Callum Smith.
It is at the 4 Corners Gym that Smith is based.
