Devin Haney is selecting underdog Regis Prograis to defeat Jack Catterall of their gentle welterweight headliner battle this Saturday, October twenty sixth, on the Co-op Reside Enviornment in Manchester, England.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
If the previous WBC and WBC 140-lb champion Prograis is victorious over Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs), it’ll make Haney’s victory over him final yr on December ninth look all the higher. It’s uncertain that can occur, however it’s comprehensible why Haney would need Regis to win as a result of his profession is within the dumps now, wanting shaky.
Haney defeated Prograis (29-4, 24 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous choice with scores of 120-107, 120-107, and 120-107.
Regis Can Flip His Profession Round
Prograis, 35, hasn’t appeared like the identical fighter he as soon as was in his final two performances, and he’s stuffed with excuses about what has occurred. He talks about veering away from his fundamental coach, Bobby Benton, for his latest loss to Haney.
A win for the New Orleans native Prograis over Catterall would put him able to problem for a world title in opposition to the winner of the December seventh battle between IBF gentle welterweight champion Liam Paro and Richardson Hitchins.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has been overtly speaking about wanting Catterall to battle the winner of the Paro-Hitchins battle, though he additionally promotes Prograis. It’s apparent that Hearn expects Catterall to win on Saturday, however Prograis, the extra confirmed fighter of the 2, could throw a wrench in Hearn’s plans.
Catterall’s resume consists nearly completely of wins over British fighters, and he’s not confronted with world-level fighters who weren’t from the UK. He defeated former three-division world champion Jorge Linares final yr by a 12-round unanimous choice on October twenty first, 2023. Nonetheless, Linares was 38 years previous, and nowhere close to the fighter, he’d been throughout his prime when he fought Catterall.
Prograis Wasn’t Mentally There
“Once I was within the battle, I used to be like, ‘Man, I would like this battle to be over,’” mentioned Prograis to the Ariel Helwani channel, speaking about his final contest in opposition to Haney on December ninth. “Mentally, I simply wasn’t there. I wasn’t on the market having fun with myself and having enjoyable. I used to be simply there for a job, and that’s not what I do.”
In a perfect scenario, Prograis will defeat Catterall by knockout on Saturday evening after which face Haney in a rematch to avenge his loss. That might be the right situation for Prograis. Whether or not Haney would wish to battle Prograis once more is uncertain as a result of he’s anticipated to be in search of a smooth contact for his subsequent contest after shedding Ryan Garcia in a three-knockdown efficiency on April twentieth.
“For me, it’s about going out and proving. I do know what I’ve been doing in camp. I really feel simply pretty much as good as once I was 27 and 28. I can do all the identical issues. So, for me, it’s about going out and proving it. I’m not tripping about what folks say,” mentioned Prograis, reacting to the numerous followers who consider he’s washed up after his loss to Haney.
Prograis is combating a man with the same type as Haney in Catterall. Catterall makes use of numerous motion, feints, jabs, and clinches to win his fights. Catterall isn’t as gifted as Haney, however he has the same type. Based on Hearn, Catterall chosen Prograis’s identify out of a hat for who he wished to battle, which suggests he thinks he’s a straightforward mark.
“I used to be shocked about that. I didn’t suppose that was imagined to occur,” mentioned Prograis when requested if he was shocked how Ryan Garcia defeated Haney earlier this yr on April twentieth. “I believed Haney was going to win, particularly with all of the loopy stuff that Garcia was saying through the build-up.”
I’m selecting Regis this weekend..
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 24, 2024
