Jack Catterall will face Shakhram Giyasov for the vacant WBA ‘Regular’ Welterweight World Title this Saturday, May 23, in a matchup the British contender says materialized with unexpected speed. The 12-round bout takes place at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt as the chief support for the heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven. Catterall, who recently moved up from the 140-pound division, admitted to Matchroom Boxing that this specific title opportunity “kind of come out of the blue.”
The 32-year-old Chorley native, nicknamed “El Gato,” maintains a professional record of 32-2 and enters the ring following a string of recent successes. His current momentum includes a unanimous decision victory over Josh Taylor in May 2024 and an 11th-round technical knockout of Ekow Essuman in November 2025. Despite his unhappiness in late March regarding a lack of scheduled fights, Catterall now finds himself on the brink of a world championship in a new weight class.
Catterall’s transition to the 147-pound limit follows years of grueling weight cuts at super-lightweight. He noted that spending nearly a year acclimating to the heavier division has allowed him to feel physically stronger and more prepared. “I’ve had time now to go into it and do things right,” Catterall said, emphasizing that his camp has focused on strength and track work to ensure peak conditioning for the Cairo heat.
Title stakes and Giyasov’s strategic gamble
The encounter holds significant weight within the World Boxing Association (WBA) rankings. Shakhram Giyasov, an unbeaten Olympic silver medalist from Uzbekistan, currently holds the WBA’s #1 ranking at welterweight. By accepting this fight for the vacant ‘Regular’ title, Giyasov has relinquished his previous mandatory challenger status for the full championship, a move that underscores the high stakes of Saturday’s event.
Catterall admitted he was not deeply familiar with Giyasov when the fight was first proposed. However, his team, led by trainer Stephen Smith, has since analyzed the unbeaten Uzbek’s style. “Shaka [Shakhram], unfortunately, has fought six southpaws,” Catterall observed, noting that there is significant footage available to help him prepare for the orthodox Giyasov. This technical preparation is vital as roach and zepeda set for vacant title clash news continues to show how critical detailed film study has become in modern championship boxing.
Giyasov enters the ring with a record of 17 wins and 10 knockouts, but he has been out of action since stopping Franco Maximiliano Ocampo in April 2025. This 13-month layoff contrasts with Catterall’s more active schedule over the last two years. While Giyasov possesses a two-inch height advantage, Catterall’s southpaw stance and recent form against top-tier opposition have made him a 1/3 favorite with bookmakers.
Glory in Giza event details and undercard
The “Glory in Giza” card is one of the most unique spectacles in recent boxing history, staged outdoors at one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Fans can watch the broadcast globally on the DAZN PPV platform, with the Catterall versus Giyasov ringwalks expected at approximately 9:00 PM BST for viewers in the United Kingdom. Ticket prices for the historic venue range from $50 for standard entry to over $2,100 for VIP floor-level hospitality.
Beyond the chief support, the card features several high-profile matchups. Hamzah Sheeraz is scheduled to face Begic, while the undercard also includes bouts between Sanchez and Torrez Jr., and Hiruta against Soliman. This grouping of talent reflects the growing trend of stacked international cards, similar to how dana white targets haney and stevenson for future large-scale boxing ventures. The main event remains the heavyweight championship clash where Oleksandr Usyk defends multiple world titles against Rico Verhoeven.
Championship trajectory for the winner
Winning the WBA ‘Regular’ belt would represent a career-best achievement for Catterall, who has long chased a world title after several near-misses at 140 pounds. A victory would solidify his standing in the welterweight division and potentially set up massive unification fights. Giyasov, conversely, is looking to prove that his amateur pedigree translates into professional world championship gold.
Catterall remains focused on the primary goal despite the exotic location and the sudden nature of the fight announcement. “Very grateful for the opportunity, but also super confident going out there and securing it,” he said. As the fighters prepare to fly to Egypt, the boxing world awaits to see if the British southpaw can finally secure the world title that has eluded him throughout his 34-fight career.
