Jack Catterall is expecting the very best Regis Prograis when the two meet in a junior welterweight showdown on August 24 in Manchester.
Catterall, 29-1 (13 KOs), is heading into his fourth fight in just 15 months and seems to have found the momentum he has desired throughout his career. In contrast, Prograis’s form is at best patchy after a middling victory over Danielito Zorrilla was followed by defeat to Devin Haney.
After that loss, the 29-2 (24 KOs) Prograis was adamant that he would be going back to the drawing board with the aim of becoming a three-time world champion. He could get his chance as the winner of this match-up looks set for a clash with IBF title holder Liam Paro.
Catterall, aiming for a first shot at a belt, is refusing to look into Prograis’ most recent performances and merely conclude that his rival is a spent force.
“[Prograis’ defeat to Haney] could be damaging,” Catterall told Boxing Scene. “But you’re talking about [Haney] who’s one of the best fighters in our division at the moment. It can be damaging, but in a reverse way it’s made Regis [Prograis] readjust, he knows a loss against me puts him in a very bad position.
“He’s got his sights set on becoming a three-time world champion, so he needs this victory just as much as I do. You can look at it from two perspectives, maybe it’s damaging, and it affects his performance, or maybe it gives him that kick up the arse that he might need to go out and perform.”
Catterall believes that although Prograis’ performances haven’t been up to his usual standards, he will be expecting the best version of him on fight night. Catterall recalled watching Prograis in the WBSS final against common rival Josh Taylor in October 2019, believing that version of the former champion will show up on August 24.
“I think every fighter will tell you, you prepare for your opponent at their very best,” Catterall continued. “I expect him at his very best. I was at the Taylor vs. Prograis fight back in 2019, and I’ll be preparing for the best version that I’ve seen of him. [I thought] Regis won by a round [against Taylor], it could have been a draw, could have gone either way. I think Regis, from what I enjoyed seeing, beat him that night.”
Although Catterall’s eyes are firmly on the challenge of Prograis, his ambition of finally lifting a world title is still in the back of his mind. Though a shot at WBO belt-holder Teofimo Lopez is his ultimate aim he concedes challenging Paro might be both easier to make and a fight he’d relish.
“You don’t look past any opponent,” Catterall added. “I’ve got a job to do, but in an ideal world [I want to fight] Teofimo Lopez. He’s been undisputed, he’s a big name in America, that’s a fight that I would love. I’ve got my sights set on being world champion, so any of those fighters. Paro is with Matchroom, I congratulated him last week, he beat the bogeyman [Matias]. Paro turned up, boxed well, and won. I congratulated him, but I also message [my manager] Sam Jones saying, ‘Make that fight,’ I’d love that fight as well.”
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