JACK CATTERALL beat Harlem Eubank on a disappointing technical decision after an accidental head clash got the fight called off after just six rounds.
After a cat and mouse clash, the pair butted heads accidentally and both men suffered nasty cuts above their eyes.
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But it was rapidly clear that 32-year-old Catterall’s wound was far worse and, despite the best work of his cutman, the bout was waved off – to a cacophony of boos – and went to the judges.
The officials scored it: 69-65, 69-66 and 69-66 to the home fighter.
Before the bout, Eubank faced an awkward encounter with bitter family enemy Conor Benn, who lost to his older cousin Chris earlier this year.
Each team can nominate a member to watch over the wrapping of the opponent’s hands and, in a snide move, Benn went in to represent Catterall.
It was the same trick Benn tried to use when he sent Billy Joe Saunders to watch Chris Eubank Jr’s wraps, before their April war at Tottenham.
Saunders was brilliantly shoved away by Eubank’s no-nonsense team.
But at the Manchester Arena, Benn was allowed to enter Harlem’s dressing room in the crucial few minutes before the bell.
The opener was tense and tight, the pair swapped textbook one-twos but the clearest scoring blows were a pair of left hands from the Chorley southpaw.
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Eubank, 31, looked faster and brighter but Catterall exuded experience and an ice-cool head, from his awkward southpaw stance.
Counter-puncher Catterall snatched the second round two by going on the front foot and scoring when Eubank was still trying to work his opponent out.
There was a messy tangle of feet at the start of the third, Catterall tumbled but then dragged Eubank backwards, as they both folded into the canvas.
The rest of the session dragged on with a dismal amount of punches until a more exciting interval and ‘Sweet Caroline’ chorus.
The fourth was the first Eubank clearly claimed, with a long right hand and then a short left hook but both men were hesitating and waiting too long and the crowd – at 11:15pm – was growing sleepy.
At the start of the sixth, the pair did a simultaneous summersault into the ropes, as their clash of stances became almost circus-like.
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But Harlem got serious with two stabbing jabs that rocked Catterall’s head back and were much more stick than slap.
But, after another grapple, both men ended with nasty cuts over their eyes and Catterall’s looked impossible to salvage.
Catterall cutman Kerry Kayes did a brilliant job in the extended break and the action was allowed to continue with Catterall’s approval to the doctor.
But the crowd feared it would not last long if the claret fountain sparked up again.
And, after a chat with a ringside official, the fight was called off, with the commentator stating that Eubank’s team were speaking to them.
There was a slight delay amid a moment of confusion after the ref called it off, with many wondering if there would be a winner.
But as bout went beyond four rounds, the scorecards were drawn out to confirm Catterall’s unanimous points win to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats.
Catterall said: “Respect to Harlem, but I was breaking him down. It’s frustrating I couldn’t go through the gears. It’s a head clash and I just have to move on.
“The referee made the decision, it’s out of my control. He was slippery and tricky but I felt I was catching him with the cleaner shots.
“I am back in the win column now, after back-to-back defeats, so I now can get back in the big fights.”
Eubank added: “He came in with his head but I was ready to go for round seven.
“But I didn’t get the result. I would like the rematch but we will have to see.”
While Eubank called for a rematch following the premature ending, but Catterall and his team seem intent on moving on to world title opportunities.
Meanwhile, Carl Frampton said of Catterall’s gash: “That will definitely need plastic surgery. It’s so deep.
“There’s no chance that that can be simply stitched up. Ten or twelve stitches won’t do.”
And Tony Bellew said: One hundred per cent, he’ll need a specialist to sort that out.”
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