Jack Catterall (left) celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis on October 26 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Photo by Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Jack Catterall once again came out on top in a high-profile, oft-delayed fight.
In a decisive battle between the Ring-rated top ten junior welterweight contenders, Catterall prevailed over former two-time 140-pound titlist Regis Prograis. Both fighters hit the deck, but Catterall was able to pile on the rounds in the second half to earn a unanimous decision win.
Both fighters made weight for their oft-postponed junior welterweight showdown. Catterall weighed 140 pounds, while Prograis was 139.7 pounds. Their scheduled 12-round bout will be broadcast live on DAZN this Saturday from Co-op Live in Manchester.
The show was the first ever boxing event to take place at the brand new, state-of-the-art venue.
Neither fighter delivered more than their jab in the early rounds between dueling southpaws. Chorley’s Catterall often doubled up on the stick, while Prograis tried to create opportunities for his right hook. The visiting boxer from Katy, Texas attempted just that within the final 30 seconds of the frame. Catterall slipped it but fell short with his counter.
Catterall finally broke the ice late in round three. A straight left hand caught the attention of Prograis and created separation between the two in an otherwise razor-thin fight.
Prograis secured his comeback in the fourth with a left hand of his own. An even bigger moment arrived one round later. A right by Prograis was enough to deliver the fight’s first takedown. It caught Catterall on the shoulder, but the force – and perhaps the aid of a slick ring logo – caused the fall.
Both fighters were on the canvas in round eight, although neither landed any punches.
Prograis was pushed down and immediately waved his arms to insist that a knockdown did not occur. Umpire John Latham was on top of the action and correctly ruled a slip. Prograis landed a left later in the round. Catterall took the shot and began a clinch. His forward momentum sent both tumbling down and under the bottom rope.
Catterall enjoyed a massive ninth round, the biggest for any fighter on the night. Prograis was floored twice inside the final minute, both courtesy of straight left hands. Catterall landed a classic one-two, with the left dropping Prograis and falling flat on his back. He beat the count but was down again from a single left just before the bell.
Prograis applied short-term memory to the backlash and tried to force the action in laps ten and eleven.
Catterall was game for that, but also caught by a Prograis right hook in the tenth. Prograis landed a left hand that briefly floored Catterall in the eleventh, but failed to follow up the order.
The twelfth and final round saw Prograis go straight to the jab and Catterall applied side movement. Prograis wildly missed with an overhand left and fell to the canvas. His movement was limited by an injury to his right leg, but still continued to come forward.
Catterall connected with a one-two, then moved back to avoid a counter. Prograis backed into a corner in an attempt to set a trap in the final 30 seconds. Catterall cautiously moved forward before action moved back to center ring. Both fighters attempted one more shot at glory before the bell, after which they embraced.
Prograis was tended to in his corner, while Catterall saluted the crowd with his arms raised as he believed he had earned the decision.
The two were to meet at this place on August 24. An injury suffered Catterall (29-1, 13 knockouts) to push the event out by two months.
It was an ironic twist for Catterall, who had been waiting more than two years for a rematch with former RING/undisputed champion Josh Taylor. Their snake-bitten sequel suffered several delays before they finally met on May 25.
Catterall won a unanimous decision, 27 months after suffering a controversial split decision loss in their February 2022 championship contest. He tried to make up for lost time and immediately moved forward with his career. The Ring’s no. 4-rated junior welterweight agreed to face Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) this summer on minimal severance.
The only interruption was moving forward with the event.
Prograis has held titles at 140 twice. He won the WBA belt in an April 2019 knockout victory over Kyril Relikh in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The feat took place two hours from Prograis’ childhood hometown of New Orleans, but his reign ended on the other side of the Atlantic. Prograis dropped a contested majority decision to Taylor in their Oct. 2019 World Boxing Super Series Final in London.
Five wins followed, including a November 2022 11th-round knockout of Jose Zepeda to win the WBC 140-pound belt. Prograis has made one defense, a decision win over Danielito Zorrilla last June 17 in New Orleans. The reign ended in a twelve-round loss to Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs; 1 NC) last December 9 in San Francisco, California.
Catterall has fought just three times since the controversial loss to Taylor. Four separate delays kept him out of the ring for 13 months before a decision win over Darragh Foley last May. Catterall then outpointed former three-division titleholder Jorge Linares last October before his victory over Taylor in May.
