Only a few weeks had passed since the defeat to Arnold Barboza Jr when Jack Catterall decided a solo trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with little more than his sparring gear would help erase the frustration.

Catterall had been a favourite to beat Barboza in Manchester on Feb. 15, but he dropped a split decision after an off-colour performance in their final eliminator. “I was kicking myself,” Catterall said. “I felt like I gave him the victory.”

It meant that while Barboza went on to face Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super lightweight crown at an unprecedented Times Square event in New York City, Catterall was left to survey the wreckage of his second career defeat.

There were, however, few signs of soul searching and even fewer thoughts of retirement. Instead, Catterall packed his bags and headed for America in search of the "reminder" he craved.

“It was actually in the weeks leading up to The Ring event in Times Square,” Catterall told The Ring.

“I got back on the wagon, took myself over to America for training, sparring and shared the ring with a lot of good fighters. I did it to kind of remind myself that I do belong at a good level and that I’ll be back to put things right.

“I went out to Philadelphia and spent some time in New York, too. I was in Boots Ennis’ gym and Danny Garcia’s gym. I went out there on my own, no distractions, just sparring and training.

“I enjoyed it, I needed that little bit of time to myself. I got back home and then the foot was on the gas.”

So did the other boxers in the gyms realise who Catterall, 31, was when he walked through the doors?

“I went in there, was polite, tried to be on the back foot. But you know what those places are like. Straight away they asked, 'Have you got your sparring gear?’

"'Of course I had my sparring gear. That’s what I’m here for.' I got loads of work.”

It was a throwback move for Catterall who had travelled to America 10 years earlier to spar none other than Floyd Mayweather, who was preparing to face another southpaw in Manny Pacquiao. It was an invaluable experience for the Chorley boy, who was not even of legal drinking age in the States at the time.

“Between 2012 and 2015 I was in America a lot and many of my early spars were there,” Catterall adds. “I sparred Floyd for the Pacquiao fight and also sparred Canelo ahead of the James Kirkland fight.

“Going back this time felt like recreating that a bit. I spoke to my coaches [Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis] and they fully supported it. I said, 'Listen, I’m going to go and have some me time, meet some new people, get my eye in a few gyms, learn some things, time to reflect and get the graft on.'"

Within a couple of weeks of his return, it was finally announced that a much-mooted fight with Harlem Eubank was signed and sealed. And, after two consecutive fights in Manchester’s brand-new Co-op Live Arena, it was confirmed that Catterall’s showdown with Eubank would take place across the city at famous Manchester Arena.

It was in 2014 when Catterall first boxed at the venue, winning the Central Area title via a second-round stoppage in what was his first fight scheduled for 10 rounds. Also on the undercard that night was Chris Eubank Jr, but his cousin, Harlem, was still three years away from even making his professional debut.

Nowadays, Catterall (30-2, 13 KOs) is a substantial favorite in what is his first fight at welterweight, but given how damaging back-to-back defeats would be at this stage of his career he knows exactly how high the stakes are in Manchester.

“You have to remind yourself how damaging a defeat would be,” he adds. “I’m realistic and I understand the position I find myself in.

“I’m coming off the Barboza defeat so back-to-back defeats wouldn’t do me any favours and I understand it’s a difficult road back from there. But that is what has given me the fire back in my belly — I could have accepted a 10-round international fight on an undercard somewhere.

“But does that really push me any closer to where I want to go — towards big fights? I don’t think so. Winning here can get me back on track, and who knows, maybe get me back to America for a proper fight this time.”