Regis Prograis hits the mitts throughout a exercise forward of his upcoming conflict towards Jack Catterall in Manchester – Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Former two-time junior welterweight titlist Regis Prograis is set to make one other title run and is able to upset the streaking Jack Catterall on Saturday.
The 2, who’ve a shared historical past, will meet in what guarantees to be an absorbing encounter on the Co-op Dwell Enviornment, Manchester, England.
“It was a battle we might have had a very long time in the past, we had been each signed with (now defunct promotional outfit) Probellum on the time and I bear in mind he mentioned he wished to battle me and I assumed we had been gonna make it occur, however it by no means occurred,” Prograis (29-2, 24 knockouts) instructed The Ring. “Proper now could be the right time. That is the largest battle you possibly can make at 140 with out the belts being on the road, so I believe it’s the right time for me and him to lastly make the battle occur.”
Though Prograis, rated at No. 8 by The Ring at junior welterweight, wasn’t initially joyful about ceding house benefit to face Catterall he finally determined to take the chance, which marks his first battle since shedding his WBC title to Devin Haney final December.
“Matchroom instructed me, “That’s all you might have, that’s it.” I used to be kinda towards it however I’m probably not tripping about it now,” he mentioned. “I really feel I’m ranges above Jack and that’s no disrespect to him, I believe he’s fighter however I do know I’m higher than Jack, so it doesn’t matter the place the battle takes place.”
They had been tabbed to satisfy on August 28. Nonetheless, the Brit was injured and the battle was postponed.
“I used to be tremendous, the one factor that bothered me was I didn’t get any camp cash from Matchroom,” he mentioned. “I went to Las Vegas and all the pieces got here out of my pocket, it wasn’t actually that a lot cash however on the similar time I did all that stuff on my own.
Regis Prograis talks to Showtime’s Steve Farhood after successful the interim WBC 140-pound title. Picture by Stephanie Trapp-Showtime
“I went out to Las Vegas, I used to be coaching, I stayed on the market a couple of month. Then they instructed me it obtained cancelled after which they instructed it me it’s gonna be postponed. I took it in my stride, so long as we are able to nonetheless battle that’s cool. I type of minimize coaching camp, took a bit of day off after which obtained again into it after I wanted to.”
Prograis, who earlier in his profession held the WBA 140-pound title earlier than shedding it in a close-run battle within the last of the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence to Josh Taylor (MD 12), impressively rebounded and gained the vacant WBC 140-pound title stopping Jose Zepeda (KO 11) however then labored to beat Danielito Zorrilla (SD 12) in his first protection which doubled up as a homecoming in June 2023.
He ventured to San Francisco and was dropped and surprisingly dominated by Devin Haney (UD 12) final December.
“I simply wasn’t me, I believe Devin is an effective fighter, I don’t need to make excuses, I had the worst night time or my profession and he had the most effective,” mentioned Prograis. “The unhappy factor in boxing is we’re not like different sports activities, generally in basketball and soccer, you may have off-nights after which you may go play the subsequent week and have a terrific night time however in boxing you might need an off-night and also you won’t battle, identical to me, for 10-months.”
The wait has seen the Houston resident return to fundamentals and rediscover his zest for boxing.
“Simply being me, going into the Haney battle I finished doing issues that obtained me to the highest,” he admitted. “I modified all the pieces round and my coach warned me about that a very long time in the past, he mentioned, “Lots of people do that, they did one thing that labored their who profession they usually get an enormous alternative they usually change all the pieces up.” And that’s what I did. I most likely ought to have stored the way it’s been. Simply being me once more.
“One of the crucial essential issues, I skilled with completely different trainers and I changed my head coach, Bobby Benton, and made him my assistant coach and I made considered one of my assistant trainers my head coaches, which wanting again in perception was a mistake. Even in camp, after I did that, we had some friction. Bobby’s again at No. 1. I really feel like what I’ve finished within the gymnasium is wonderful, even my coaches are like, “That is the outdated Regis, you’re again.” My coaches could be trustworthy with me if I wasn’t.
“I’m getting again to my groove of being me and the principle factor is simply having enjoyable, Bobby tells me that on daily basis. I really feel just like the final battle there was a lot strain on me, the individuals round me, my pals, you shouldn’t need to have all this strain. I had to consider it however that’s true. Bobby will inform me some directions earlier than I begin sparring and the very last thing he’ll say is, ‘Go have enjoyable.’ That’s what I’m doing proper now.”
At 35, coming off an prolonged day off, there are those that consider we now have seen the most effective of Prograis. Nonetheless, Prograis isn’t considered one of them. He intends to channel his interior “Rougarou”.
“Let individuals discuss, I gained’t let no person inform me who I’m, I’m gonna present you who I’m,” he mentioned defiantly. “So long as I’m Regis, the one who obtained to the highest twice already, so long as that individual reveals up, I’m tremendous and I really feel like that individual hasn’t been round for awhile. I really feel l am getting again to my groove being me and what obtained me to the highest within the first place. If that Regis reveals up, it gained’t be a tough night time.”
Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs), rated at No. 4 by The Ring at junior welterweight, realized on the job after turning skilled in 2012. He scored a number of spectacular wins over the likes of Tom Stalker (TKO 8) and Joe Hughes (UD 12), and moved on to win the British title towards Tyrone Nurse (UD 12). Nonetheless, regardless of staying unbeaten his profession appeared to have stalled.
He was the WBO No. 1 ranked contender and eventually obtained his huge probability when he met then Ring champion Josh Taylor. Catterall fought the battle of his life, dropping Taylor earlier than holding off the defending champion’s late cost. Most believed he had finished sufficient, however he misplaced a extremely contentious 12-round break up resolution. When the rematch by no means got here to move, the 31-year-old craftsman returned and beat Darragh Foley (UD 10) and wily veteran former three-weight titleholder Jorge Linares (UD 12). He lastly obtained the Taylor rematch and went his means by 12-round unanimous resolution.
Catterall-Taylor, plus undercard motion, shall be broadcast on DAZN at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT and at 7:00 p.m. GMT.
Questions and/or feedback may be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
