Josh Taylor remains world champion after split-decision win over Jack Catterall

Josh Taylor’s homecoming ended in success as he kept his four world title belts with a split-decision win over Jack Catterall but the Scot was seriously tested at Glasgow’s Hydro.

Taylor entered the ring as undisputed light-welterweight champion and as heavy favourite to extend his undefeated record but Catterall frustrated and unsettled with a confident performance that he believed was enough to wrest the belts away.

The Englishman blanked out the noise of the sell-out 12,101 crowd to impress in the early rounds, then thwarted Taylor as the Scot looked to re-establish himself.

Taylor was downed in the eighth and it looked like the champion was on the path to losing his crown.

Catterall was deducted a point in the tenth but Taylor’s frustration cost him a point at the end of the eleventh as he hit Catterall with a cheap shot after the bell.

The twelfth brought a desperate flurry from Taylor as he it looked like he would need a stoppage to keep his titles but both fighters were standing at the end and both were claiming victory as they awaited the scorecards.

The results came in with one judge scoring 113-112 in favour of Catterall, the second having Taylor winning 114-111 and the third awarded 113-112 to Taylor, meaning the Scot remains undisputed champion but with many feeling he was fortunate to keep his belts.