Jack Catterall slaps Josh Taylor at press conference

Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall had to be pulled apart for a second day in a row with the tension already building ahead of their grudge rematch on April 27.

Taylor and Catterall first met in 2022, with Taylor winning via a controversial split decision, and they will face off in a non-title fight in Leeds in a little over two months’ time.

There is no love lost between the two fighters, who were separated during the first press conference in Edinburgh on Monday, and it was a similar story in Manchester on Tuesday.

Sparks flew before a slanging match ensued

Taylor arrived 30 minutes late to the press conference, which he put down to bad traffic on the journey down from Scotland, and when he did so he was quick to approach his seated opponent.

Taylor shook hands with Eddie Hearn before attempting to hand a joke prop to Catterall, only for the Lancastrian to stand up and slap Taylor around the back of the head.

Security quickly intervened before the press conference got under way and a verbal jousting match began.

Catterall said: “People have been talking about an England vs Scotland narrative, but it’s just me fighting a p****. He’s just not a nice person, that’s what it is.”

Taylor responded: “Did you think of that all by yourself, Jack? Did you get away from your crayons for a minute?”

Catterall then bit back, saying: “You look like a bag head, you look like a bag head. You’re finished after this fight.”

Taylor then advised Hearn to keep Catterall in check after the earlier slap, saying: “You need to have a word with your man here. Three times he’s tried to put his hands on me, he’s meant to be a professional athlete. Keep it professional. Keep your hands to yourself, you little rat.”

Catterall responded: “You came for my nipples yesterday,” to which Taylor said: “Yeah your little chippy t***, you little fatty.”