Jack Catterall edges Harlem Eubank in controversial technical decision at AO Arena

When Jack Catterall stepped into the ring at the AO Arena on July 5, 2025, he wasn’t just defending his reputation—he was fighting for his next shot at a world title. The 31-year-old Manchester native outlasted the undefeated Harlem Eubank, 21-0 and brimming with momentum, in a fight that ended not with a knockout, but with a cut, a whisper from a corner doctor, and a stunned silence from the crowd. With 30 seconds left in Round 6, referee Bob Williams called it off after both fighters suffered cuts from an accidental head clash. The result? A technical decision, 69-65, 69-66, 69-66, all in Catterall’s favor. And the fallout? Pure chaos.

The Fight That Didn’t Finish

Catterall, coming off a narrow loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. in February, had spent months rebuilding his momentum. He moved up to welterweight, betting on his technical skill to outmaneuver the younger, aggressive Eubank. And for five and a half rounds, it worked. He landed the cleaner shots, controlled the distance, and kept Eubank at bay with sharp jabs and crisp counters. Eubank, meanwhile, pressed forward with the energy of a man who’d never been tested at this level. He was fast, relentless, and—until the clash—untouched.

Then, at 2:30 of Round 6, their heads collided. A slip. A misstep. A brutal, unintended impact. Both fighters immediately flinched. Blood began to trickle—Catterall above his right eye, Eubank above his left. The crowd gasped. The fighters looked at each other, nodded, and kept going. The fight wasn’t over. Not yet.

The Doctor’s Whisper That Changed Everything

Here’s the twist: Eubank’s corner doctor was the one who approached the referee. According to DAZN’s post-fight footage, the doctor said, “You have a bad c…” before trailing off. Catterall, bleeding but alert, turned to his own corner and shouted, “I’m all right. Let’s go.” But the referee had already turned to the ringside physician. The doctor from Eubank’s camp stood. The doctor from Catterall’s sat. And in that split-second imbalance, the decision was made.

“It wasn’t about who was bleeding more,” said one veteran ringside judge, speaking off-record. “It was about perception. The cut on Eubank’s eyebrow was deeper. It was over his lid. If it swells, he can’t see. That’s a safety issue. But the timing? That’s where it gets messy.”

Both fighters were ready for Round 7. Catterall’s team later confirmed he’d been cleared by the ringside doctor. Eubank, visibly frustrated, waved his arms toward the judges as the decision was read. “Fair play to Jack,” he said post-fight. “But you saw what I was doing in there. I was coming into the fight beautifully. We need to run it back right now.”

Why This Matters Beyond the Scorecards

Catterall’s career has always been one of near-misses. He lost a disputed decision to Josh Taylor in 2022—most observers felt he won. He avenged it in a rematch. He beat Regis Prograis in a grueling war. Then came Barboza. A split decision loss. A career stall. This win, however flawed, puts him back on the map. He’s now 31-2, with a win over Eubank—someone who had never faced a top-10 caliber opponent.

Eubank, meanwhile, remains undefeated. But now he’s a cautionary tale. His 21-0 record suddenly feels fragile. He’s a rising star with a pedigree—he’s the grandson of the legendary Chris Eubank—but this fight exposed a gap in his experience. He didn’t know how to manage damage. He didn’t know how to adjust when things went sideways. He just kept coming.

The betting odds told the story before the bell: Catterall at 4/11, Eubank at 9/4. The bookmakers saw the veteran. The fans saw the hype. The result? A compromise no one wanted.

What Happens Next?

The immediate call is clear: rematch. Both camps have already signaled they’re open to it. Matchroom Boxing, which promoted the event, has a history of facilitating grudge matches—think Canelo vs. GGG, or Fury vs. Wilder. A rematch in early 2026, perhaps at the Manchester Arena or even Wembley Arena, would draw 15,000+ fans and millions on DAZN.

But here’s the real question: Should the result stand? The World Boxing Council has no rule mandating a rematch after a technical decision due to accidental headbutt. But ethics? Tradition? The sport’s soul? That’s another matter. Fans expect resolution. Not half-finished chess matches.

Historical Echoes

This isn’t the first time a fight ended this way. In 2015, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez ended in a split decision after a head clash in Round 6—no stoppage, but the controversy was similar. In 2021, Terence Crawford vs. Jose Zepeda was stopped due to cuts, and Zepeda was awarded a draw. The inconsistency is glaring.

What’s needed isn’t more drama—it’s clearer rules. Should a cut from an accidental headbutt automatically end a fight? Or should it go to the scorecards only if the fighter can’t continue? The sport needs to decide. Because right now, it’s a coin flip.