Overview
- Multiple outlets report Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov have agreed to fight on the May 23 card in Egypt headlined by Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, with an official announcement expected soon.
- The matchup is widely expected to be for the WBA 'regular' welterweight title, which is the organization’s secondary belt beneath Rolly Romero’s status as full champion.
- Giyasov enters unbeaten at 17-0 with 10 knockouts and holds the WBA’s No. 1 ranking at 147 pounds, while Catterall is 32-2 with 14 knockouts and is coming off a November stoppage of Ekow Essuman.
- Both fighters are promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, a shared banner that helps place in-house title fights on large international shows.
- A new 'regular' titleholder could spur near-term talks about unification with Romero, a path already discussed in boxing circles as Matchroom and network partners shape the welterweight picture.