Trainer outlines why Regis Prograis is back to his old self

If Saturday night’s junior welterweight fight with Jack Catterall is a make or break night for Regis Prograis, the Louisianan has plenty of reasons for optimism. 

For starters, the 35-year-old has always performed well against southpaws. Prograis, 29-2 (24 KOs), has beaten Jose Zepeda, Terry Flanagan, Tyrone McKenna and Ivan Redkach, amongst others, and even his loss to Josh Taylor in the final of the World Boxing Super Series was a razor tight majority decision.   

Although Catterall, 29-1 (13 KOs), is also known to be very comfortable tackling his fellow southpaws, Prograis’ trainer, Bobby Benton, is looking forward to seeing his man pit his wits against the man from Chorley. 

“He’s fought more southpaws than he has right handers. We’ve got plenty of southpaws in the gym too, so that helps,” Benton told BoxingScene. 

“He just sees the shots coming differently. I don’t think he has a problem with any style. He can fight right handers, left handers, but it’s just training for it, preparing for it.

“There’s a few [similarities, between Prograis and Catterall]. They both have good left hands. They’re a little crafty, but I think Regis is a smarter fighter.”

Benton has worked with Prograis since the start of his career.

After being forced to flee New Orleans to escape Hurricane Katrina, Prograis eventually settled in Houston and spent almost 20 years living in Texas before relocating again to California. He trained on the west coast for his fight with Devin Haney last December but after turning in a disappointing performance, he decided to return to his adopted hometown to prepare for the pivotal fight with Catterall.

Many of Prograis’ best nights were plotted and prepared for in Houston and Benton has recognised some of the old Prograis.

Benton also believes that rather than putting him at a disadvantage, fighting far away from home in Manchester should bring out the best in Prograis.

Before losing to Haney, Prograis put in a lacklustre display against Danielito Zorrilla in front of an expectant crowd in New Orleans but, away from his friends and family, Benton is expecting a more relaxed, dangerous version of ‘The Rougarou’ this weekend. 

“It’s been great. This camp has been really good,” Benton said. “It’s been fun. He looks like himself. The last few camps were a little bit off. He had a lot of stuff going on, but he seems like he’s having fun and it’s going to be a blast in there.

“I actually like him fighting away from home better than I do at home.When he’s away he’s way more relaxed than he is at home. He’s got a lot of pressure at home.

“It’s not that he can’t perform at home, but there’s just a lot more going on. Everybody’s calling him. Everybody’s trying to get stuff from him, but here we don’t have that pressure. The pressure’s all on Catterall on Saturday night.”

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