The 140-pound division is one of the deepest weight classes in boxing, and on Saturday night October 26th, former two-time super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis will face the No. 2 ranked WBC/WBO contender Jack Catterall.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
This is a battle between two boxers who are both over the age of 30, and they both view this bout as a super-lightweight world title eliminator match. The action is set to take place at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, streaming live on DAZN.
A product of New Orleans, Louisiana, Regis Prograis picked up the sport of boxing relatively late, but despite the late start, Prograis became a world champion when he defeated Kiryl Relikh via 6th round TKO, and won the WBA super-lightweight title back in April 2019.
Six months later, Prograis would step inside the ring and attempt to become a unified champion when he faced Josh Taylor. The match between Prograis and Taylor was an entertaining, action-packed bout, but unfortunately for Prograis, he lost by way of majority decision.
The next couple of years were very frustrating for Prograis due to the fact that he wasn’t receiving the opportunities he felt he deserved. Finally on the night of November 26, 2022 Prograis was awarded an opportunity, and he took advantage of his opportunity as he defeated Jose Zepeda and won the vacant WBC strap.
Regis Prograis would go on to sign with Matchroom Boxing and have a homecoming bout in New Orleans. Despite a lackluster outing, Prograis retained his WBC belt when he posted a split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla.
Six months later, Prograis was set to make his second world title defense against a man who was a former undisputed world champion. Back in December 2023 Prograis was outclassed by Devin Haney as he lost via unanimous decision.
Now 10 months later, Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) is ready to step back inside the squared circle to showcase his skills and prove that he’s worthy of another opportunity to fight for a world title. Standing in his way is a ring technician who plans on continuing to position himself for a match against one of the champions at 140.
During his 10th year as a pro, Jack Catterall finally got his chance to fight for a world title when he faced the then undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor back in February 2022. Throughout the battle for the undisputed crown, the southpaw Jack Catterall landed his left-hand shots at will.
In the 8th round of the bout, Catterall landed an overhand left that sent Josh Taylor down to the canvas. After the knockdown Catterall continued to outbox Taylor, but at the conclusion of 12-rounds, the champion, Josh Taylor was awarded a controversial split-decision victory.
After the disappointing defeat, Catterall scored two impressive victories. He would go on to have a rematch against Josh Taylor, and in a non-title bout, Jack Catterall defeated Josh Taylor via unanimous decision.
With the feeling he could be just one step away from another shot at a world title, the 31-year-old Chorley, Lancashire, England native Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) is ready to battle the 35-year-old former two-time champion Regis Prograis.
Jack Catterall is a ring technician who has a solid jab, good punch placement and knows how to control distance. Catterall excels at using movement to set up his offensive attack. His opponent, the southpaw Regis Prograis, is at his best when he’s fighting on the front foot and setting up his lethal left hand.
Due to the depth of the 140-pound division, this could be a fight where the winner stays relevant and in the hunt, while the loser may have to reassess his career as a super-lightweight. Catterall has never won a world title, but Prograis has done it on two separate occasions, and he’s determined to accomplish the feat once again.
“When I was world champion, it was kind of like, what is there left to do? When I don’t have the belt, I’m back hungry and back on my grind,” Prograis said. “I want to get that again. My goal is to be a three-time champion.”
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