Jack Catterall is preparing for Regis Prograis to roll back the years when the super-lightweight contenders meet at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on October 26.
Whereas Catterall, 29-1 (13 KOs), is riding the momentum generated by February’s exciting decision victory over his long-term rival Josh Taylor, Prograis, 29-2 (24 KOs), enters their fight from something of a standing start.
The Louisianan looked flat during a close, split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in June 2023 and then lost every round of a disastrous WBC super-lightweight title defence against Devin Haney in December.
Although he got drawn into a fight with Taylor, Catterall is generally a master of controlling the pace and range of a fight, and if Prograis is to set himself up for another run towards a world title he will have to get himself much closer much more regularly than he managed against either Zorrilla or Haney.
In his favour, Prograis is still an explosive puncher when he has time to set his feet, and he has always performed against his fellow southpaws. He holds wins over Terry Flanagan, Ivan Redkach, Tyrone McKenna and Jose Zepeda; many observers also believed he did enough to beat Taylor during their outstanding World Boxing Super Series final in 2019.
Catterall, 31, has regardless spent long enough watching Prograis to recognise the threat he is capable of posing and is preparing himself accordingly.
“Me and Regis have bumped into each other a few times over the years,” he said during Matchroom Boxing’s Make the Days Count documentary. “There’s always been that mutual respect and you just never know with boxing how it’s going to unfold
“I think if you look at Regis now, his last two performances have probably been below par. I think the Regis that I’m fighting next is probably a hungry, driven Regis and that’s what I’m excited for. The fact that he’s been a world champion twice – he’s hungry to become three-time.
“He lost his belt in the last fight so I think he’ll be super motivated for this fight to get back on track and get a win. That gives me the fire in my belly and gets me excited – the fact that I’ve got a hungry, determined Regis coming to fight me in Manchester.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79