JACK CATTERALL blew his world title dreams in front of darts world champ Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler with a loss to Arnold Barboza.
The 31-year-old Chorley southpaw – who was robbed of 2022 undisputed glory – looked like landing a home decision.
GettyJack Catterall saw his world title dream crumble with defeat to Arnold Barboza[/caption]
GettyThe ace lost via a split decision in Manchester[/caption]
GettyDarts star Luke Littler sat ring-side with Eddie Hearn for the spectacle[/caption]
GettyCatterall had plenty to say about Barboza’s controversial win afterwards[/caption]
But he failed to land anything explosive in front of the 18-year-old arrows ace and lost out on split decision.
The judges at the Co-Op arena in Manchester called it: 115-113 Catterall, 115-113 Barboza and 115-113 Barboza.
Catterall banked the opener with clever counter combinations when the Mexican-American barged in.
The 33-year-old landed a pair of eye-catching rights in the third, when Catterall’s waiting game worked against him.
Catterall’s crisp one-twos cooled the visitor’s momentum at the start of the fourth.
But Barboza kept pressuring him and pushing the Brit backwards and nicked the fifth by being on the front foot.
Catterall had a mare in the seventh and was wobbled right at the end of the round and the tide started turning against him.
A left hook was Catterall’s best punch of round eight.
Yet Barboza’s industriousness should have been impressing the judges.
El Gato’s crowd purred when a left backhand from their hero smacked right into the middle of Barboza’s forehead.
Barboza’s backside met the canvas with a thud in the tenth.
But referee Steve Gray rightly called it an accidental trip.
The final stanza was boxed on a knife edge and both tough men celebrated at the last bell before the officials added up the scorecards and Barboza landed the bullseye.
Catterall said: “Tricky fight, no complaints. I want to see him go on and win the world title now.
“But I’ll be back in the gym on Monday”.
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