From the opening rounds, Catterall controlled the pace with his southpaw jab, sharp timing, and disciplined footwork. Giyasov tried to pressure forward and close the distance, but the British contender repeatedly picked him off with clean counters and body shots while keeping the fight at the range he wanted.
Catterall’s accuracy and ring control steadily separated the two fighters as the rounds progressed.
The biggest moment of the fight came when Catterall scored a knockdown, helping widen the gap on the scorecards and forcing Giyasov into a more desperate approach. While Giyasov showed toughness and continued trying to work his way back into the contest with pressure and body punching, he struggled to consistently land clean against Catterall’s defensive movement and counter punching.
By the second half of the fight, Catterall appeared fully in command.
The victory gave the former junior welterweight contender his first title at 147 pounds and immediately strengthened his position in a crowded welterweight division. Catterall had entered the fight looking to establish himself among the leading names at the new weight after years competing at 140, and Saturday’s performance likely answered many of the questions surrounding how his style would carry upward.
For Giyasov, the defeat marked the first loss of his professional career.
The unbeaten Uzbek contender had entered the bout as a dangerous pressure fighter with strong momentum, but Catterall’s timing, discipline, and ability to control range proved difficult to solve over 12 rounds. By the final bell, the outcome felt clear long before the official scorecards were announced.
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