Jack Catterall ready for Elland Road date after picking up 20th professional win

Jack Catterall goes on the attack during his win over Kevin McCauley.

IN PICTURES: Best of the action from Preston Guild Hall fight nightChorley’s British super lightweight champion took just two minutes and 12 seconds to stop Kevin McCauley in his first fight with new trainer Jamie Moore.

Bigger challenges lie ahead with the unbeaten 24-year-old set to return to action on May 19 on the undercard of Lee Selby and Josh Warrington’s IBF World featherweight title clash at Leeds United’s Elland Road.

“Coming through this unscathed puts me in a perfect position to get straight back in the gym,” said Catterall.

“I needed to get tonight out of the way. In boxing you can’t look too far ahead.

“I don’t have a confirmed opponent for May 19 but hopefully something will be locked in soon.

“I’ve never boxed on a stadium show and I’ve only ever been to one football match, I’m not a big football follower.

“It will be a new experience for me.”

More used to major arena fights in the last couple of years, Saturday night was designed to keep Catterall busy in front of a home crowd.

“My last few fights have been big title fights so it might have been difficult to get up for a six-rounder like this,” the WBO Inter-Continental champion admitted.

“You know the opponent’s going to be negative, you might not be able to showcase what you’ve been practicing against good level fighters.

“I don’t think I got out of first gear though. I’m over the moon with it.

Jack Catterall gets a final word of advice from trainer Jamie Moore.

“It’s been good to be so close to home.

“They made plenty of noise so thanks to everybody that came out.

“I’ve always got good support and it’s something I’m very grateful for.”

It was also a useful exercise as it gave Catterall chance to work with Moore for the first time on fight night, the Chorley star having recently moved to the VIP Gym in Astley, near Leigh.

“It was about settling in with my new set-up,” he said.

“It’s from when you leave the house, the final week in the gym and nailing down the things you’ve been working on and then the talk you get before going into the ring.

“It was all new to me but I enjoyed it. In boxing it’s a marathon not a sprint.

“I know over the months and years to come that I’m going to progress with Jamie and I fully believe that I can get to the top.

“I’m in a good place with my training and hopefully I can fulfill my potential.”