Europe’s largest indoor arena – with a capacity of 23,500 – was around a third full as a boisterous crowd repeatedly chanted ‘Chorley’ to welcome Lancastrian Catterall to the ring.
Quite fittingly, he made his entrance to the song ‘I just can’t wait to be king’ from the Lion King.
Catterall, who started boxing aged 11 and turned pro in 2012, is a reserved family man, yet there has been a swagger and spring in his step throughout fight week.
Barboza, though, had won all 31 of his pro fights and arrived in the UK full of confidence on the back of a career-best win over Jose Ramirez in November.
Neither fighter was willing to overcommit early on and Catterall edged the first two rounds with the cleaner work. The Californian responded well, cutting off the ring and landing jabs and good body shots.
A terrific counter-puncher, southpaw Catterall’s approach, while appreciated by purists, does not always lend to the most entertaining of styles.
He landed a great two-punch combination in the sixth round, before his rival returned the favour with a flush right.
Catterall was warned for a low blow in the seventh and, as the round drew to a close, his legs dipped after a right from Barboza.
The Catterall faithful turned the volume up a notch when the American hit the canvas in the 11th. He instantly shot up to his feet and protested a slip, with replays showing he fell over Catterall’s trailing leg as a jab landed.
Barboza and Catterall both celebrated at the final bell as pundits and ringside reporters shrugged their shoulders and compared contrasting scorecards with the decision too close to call.
