Jack Catterall (left) celebrates his Oct. 26 unanimous choice win over Regis Prograis at Co-op Dwell in Manchester, England.
Image By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Jack Catterall as soon as once more got here up aces in an oft-postponed high-profile battle.
A pivotal battle between Ring-rated high ten junior welterweight contenders noticed Catterall prevail over former two-time 140-pound titlist Regis Prograis. Each fighters hit the deck however Catterall was capable of pile up rounds within the second half to earn a unanimous choice victory.
Each fighters made weight for his or her oft-postponed junior welterweight conflict. Catterall weighed 140 kilos, whereas Prograis was 139.7 kilos. Their scheduled 12-round bout airs dwell on DAZN this Saturday from Co-op Dwell in Manchester.
The present marked the primary ever boxing occasion to happen on the model new, state-of-the-art venue.
Neither fighter provided greater than their jab within the early rounds between dueling southpaws. Chorley’s Catterall would typically double up on the stick, whereas Prograis sought to arrange alternatives for his proper hook. The visiting boxer from Katy, Texas tried simply that inside the ultimate 30 seconds of the body. Catterall slipped it however fell brief along with his counter.
Catterall lastly broke the ice late in spherical three. A straight left hand caught the eye of Prograis and created separation between the 2 in an in any other case razor-thin battle.
Prograis secured his get-back with a left hand of his personal within the fourth. A fair larger second got here one spherical later. A proper jab by Prograis was sufficient to supply the bout’s first knockdown. It caught Catterall on the shoulder however the pressure—and maybe with the help of a slippery ring brand—produced the autumn.
Each fighters have been on the canvas in spherical eight, although none from any landed punches.
Prograis was pushed down and instantly waved his arms to insist a knockdown didn’t happen. Referee John Latham was on high of the motion and accurately dominated a slip. Prograis landed a left later within the spherical. Catterall took the shot and initiated a clinch. His ahead momentum brought about each to tumble down and beneath the underside rope.
Catterall loved an enormous ninth spherical, the most important for both fighter on the evening. Prograis was twice floored inside the ultimate minute, each courtesy of straight left fingers. Catterall landed a basic one-two, with the left inflicting Prograis to go down and fall flat on his again. He beat the depend however was down once more from a single left simply earlier than the bell.
Prograis utilized short-term reminiscence to the setback and sought to pressure the motion in spherical ten and eleven.
Catterall was sport for the trigger but additionally caught by a Prograis proper hook within the tenth. Prograis landed a left hand which briefly jarred Catterall within the eleventh however did not comply with up on the sequence.
The twelfth and closing spherical noticed Prograis go straight to the jab and Catterall apply lateral motion. Prograis missed wildly with an overhand left and fell to the canvas. His motion was restricted by an harm to his proper leg, however nonetheless continued to return ahead.
Catterall related with a one-two after which slid again to keep away from a counter. Prograis backed right into a nook in an try and set a lure within the closing 30 seconds. Catterall inched ahead with warning earlier than motion moved again to middle ring. Each fighters tried yet one more shot at glory earlier than the bell, at which level they embraced.
Prograis was tended to in his nook, whereas Catterall saluted the gang with arms raised as he believed he earned the choice.
The 2 have been as a result of meet on Aug. 24 at this location. An harm suffered by Catterall (29-1, 13 knockouts) to push out the occasion by two months.
It was an ironic twist for Catterall, who spent greater than two years ready on a rematch with former RING/undisputed champion Josh Taylor. Their snakebitten sequel suffered a number of delays earlier than they lastly met on Could 25.
Catterall gained a unanimous choice, 27 months after he suffered a controversial cut up choice defeat of their Feb. 2022 championship contest. He sought to make up for misplaced time and instantly moved ahead along with his profession. The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior welterweight agreed to phrases with minimal interruption to face Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) this summer time.
The one interruption was shifting ahead with the occasion.
Prograis has twice held titles at 140. He gained the WBA belt in an April 2019 knockout win over Kyril Relikh in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The feat passed off two hours from Prograis’ childhood hometown of New Orleans however his reign ended on the opposite facet of the Atlantic. Prograis dropped a aggressive majority choice to Taylor of their Oct. 2019 World Boxing Tremendous Sequence finale in London.
5 wins adopted, together with a Nov. 2022 eleventh spherical knockout of Jose Zepeda to win the WBC 140-pound belt. Prograis made one protection, a call win over Danielito Zorrilla final June 17 in New Orleans. The reign led to a twelve-round shutout defeat to Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs; 1 NC) final Dec. 9 in San Francisco, California.
Catterall has fought simply 3 times because the disputed defeat to Taylor. 4 separate delays left him out of the ring for 13 months earlier than a call victory over Darragh Foley final Could. Catterall then outpointed former three-division titlist Jorge Linares final October earlier than his victory over Taylor in Could.
