One of the most compelling undisputed unification bouts in years is set for the undercard of the biggest show in boxing. On May 23, 2026, Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov meet at the Pyramids of Giza with the IBF, WBC, and WBO World Welterweight titles on the line. Three belts. Two unbeaten-or-near-unbeaten fighters. One of the deepest talent pools in boxing. The path to undisputed at 147 lbs runs through Egypt.
| Date | Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| Venue | Pyramids of Giza, Egypt |
| Division | Welterweight (147 lbs) |
| Scheduled Rounds | 12 |
| Titles | IBF, WBC & WBO World Welterweight |
| Ringwalk | 8:00 PM UTC / 4:00 PM EST / 9:00 PM BST |
Jack Catterall has earned his shot the hard way. At 31, the Preston southpaw has a record of 32-2 with 14 knockouts — a 44% KO rate that belies his technical, disciplined style — and has accumulated a remarkable 248 professional rounds. That mileage is not just longevity: it is fight intelligence built across some of the most competitive welterweight and super lightweight matchups in British boxing history.
The data tells the story of a fighter who wins the rounds that matter. Catterall’s work rate is elite — he consistently outlands opponents across 12 rounds — and his southpaw angles create genuine problems even for technically accomplished opponents. His loss to Josh Taylor (widely seen as controversial) and a points defeat to Subriel Matias have been the only blots on a career built on consistency and craft. Since those setbacks, he has been on a devastating run, stopping Essuman in the 11th and comprehensively beating Eubank Jr.
| Catterall | |
|---|---|
| Record | 32-2 (14 KOs) |
| KO Rate | 44% |
| Age | 31 |
| Height | 5’7” (170 cm) |
| Reach | 68.9” (175 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Nationality | English |
| Rounds Fought | 248 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Liam Essuman | TKO | 11 |
| W | Chris Eubank Jr | Tech Dec | 7 |
| L | Subriel Matias | Split Dec | 12 |
| W | Regis Prograis | UD | 12 |
| W | Jose Zepeda | UD | 12 |
Shakhram Giyasov is unbeaten and hungry. At 31, the Uzbek orthodox fighter carries an 18-0 record with 11 stoppages — a 61% KO rate — and has developed steadily through the WBC and WBO rankings. What he lacks in Catterall’s ring time (95 professional rounds against 248) he makes up for in power and an aggressive, pressure-based approach that has broken opponents down consistently.
Giyasov’s amateur pedigree is significant — Uzbekistan produces elite fighters, and the technical foundation is evident. His most recent win, a TKO4 over Urvanov in November 2025, demonstrated both his power and his ability to impose his gameplan. At 5’9”, he holds a two-inch height advantage over Catterall, and his orthodox stance against Catterall’s southpaw creates a classic clash of styles.
| Giyasov | |
|---|---|
| Record | 18-0 (11 KOs) |
| KO Rate | 61% |
| Age | 31 |
| Height | 5’9” (175 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Nationality | Uzbek |
| Rounds Fought | 95 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Sardor Urvanov | TKO | 4 |
| W | Pablo Cesar Cano | Tech Dec | 9 |
| W | Eduardo Hernandez | UD | 12 |
| W | Jose Zepeda | UD | 10 |
| W | Bryant Perrella | UD | 10 |
| Catterall | Giyasov | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 32-2 | 18-0 |
| KOs | 14 (44%) | 11 (61%) |
| Age | 31 | 31 |
| Height | 5’7” | 5’9” |
| Reach | 68.9” | — |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Pro Rounds | 248 | 95 |
Same age, opposite stances, but the gulf in professional rounds is the defining statistical difference: Catterall has fought 153 more rounds than Giyasov. That experience advantage at world championship level is enormous.
This is a fascinating clash of styles. Catterall’s southpaw stance gives him the natural left-hand leverage against Giyasov’s orthodox guard, and his 248 rounds of experience mean he knows exactly how to pace a championship fight. He will look to control the jab, work behind his southpaw right jab to set up the left hand, and use his footwork to deny Giyasov clean angles.
Giyasov’s power is the great question mark. His 61% KO rate against Catterall’s 44% suggests Giyasov finds the stoppage more readily, but the quality of opposition he has stopped is a step below what Catterall has handled. If Giyasov can land his right hand consistently on the southpaw’s open side, he has the tools to make this fight uncomfortable from the middle rounds onward.
The key is whether Giyasov’s 95 professional rounds have prepared him adequately for 12 rounds against someone who has been here many times. Catterall’s biggest wins — over Prograis and Essuman — came when he absorbed early pressure and then took over from the midpoint of the fight. Expect a similar script here.
Catterall:
Giyasov:
Catterall’s 248 rounds of elite-level experience is his greatest weapon in this fight. Giyasov is unbeaten and dangerous, but the step up to three world titles against a southpaw with this much mileage is steep. Catterall has already beaten Prograis, a former unified champion, and come agonisingly close in a Taylor rematch — Giyasov has not been tested at anything close to that level.
Prediction: Catterall via unanimous decision. He controls the fight from behind his southpaw jab, survives any mid-fight Giyasov momentum, and takes a clear points win across 12 rounds to become undisputed welterweight champion.
| Country | Broadcaster | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Sky Sports Box Office | 9:00 PM BST |
| 🇺🇸 United States | ESPN+ PPV | 4:00 PM EST |
| 🌍 International | Various streaming | 8:00 PM UTC |
Catterall vs Giyasov is just one of five elite bouts on this extraordinary card. The headliner sees Oleksandr Usyk defend all four heavyweight titles against Rico Verhoeven, while Hamzah Sheeraz battles Alem Begic for the vacant WBO Super Middleweight title, Frank Sanchez faces Richard Torrez Jr in a heavyweight IBF eliminator, and Mizuki Hiruta defends her WBO Super Flyweight crown against Mai Soliman.
When is Catterall vs Giyasov? Saturday, May 23, 2026. Ringwalk is expected at approximately 8:00 PM UTC (9:00 PM BST / 4:00 PM EST).
What titles are at stake in Catterall vs Giyasov? The IBF, WBC, and WBO World Welterweight titles — making the winner a three-belt unified champion.
Where is the fight taking place? At the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, on the undercard of Usyk vs Verhoeven.
How many professional rounds has Catterall fought? Catterall has fought 248 professional rounds — compared to Giyasov’s 95. That experience gap is one of the defining factors in this matchup.
Who is the favourite in Catterall vs Giyasov? Catterall is favoured based on his championship experience, southpaw advantages, and elite-level wins over Prograis and Essuman.
How can I watch Catterall vs Giyasov in the UK? The fight is available via Sky Sports Box Office as part of the Usyk vs Verhoeven card.
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