Regis Prograis is not worried about the idea of facing Jack Catterall in a must-win junior welterweight clash on August 24 in Manchester.
The former two-time world champion is instead focused on getting back to his best after a damaging defeat to Devin Haney in his last contest. Prograis welcomed the former undisputed lightweight champion to the division by handing over his WBC title after a wide points loss.
Now Prograis has his eyes set on winning a world title for a third time, but must get past Catterall to set up a shot at a belt. Prograis, however, is not fazed by his fellow junior welterweight, and insisted that although he may have faced bigger punchers and better boxers, getting back to his old self is the key to victory.
“It’s going to be the same [Jack Catterall as usual], I can’t train for him, I’ve got to train for me,” said Prograis. “As long as I get back to doing and being me again, then I shouldn’t have any trouble. I’ve fought better boxers and I’ve fought better punchers. I won’t know how to rank him [amongst the best I’ve fought] until I get into the ring with him.”
Prograis was hailed for his attitude after his fight with Haney, admitting he had been beaten by the better man but that he would come again. The fighter set his eyes on a third world championship that night and now, on the brink of another title shot, he has hinted at big changes to help him achieve it.
“It’s going to be a surprise, I have added some different things, I’m doing some different things,” Prograis said. “I can’t wait to show people on fight night what I’ve been doing. One thing I do, I train all the time non-stop just to get back to my belt. Right now, three-time world champion, that is definitely my motivation.”
Prograis was on the wrong end of a close decision in his last contest on British soil against Josh Taylor. Catterall was also not given the decision against Taylor in a fight that seemed easy to score. He then picked up a win in a much closer contest in May and Taylor’s promoter Bob Arum made some strong statements about the British judging. Prograis, however, is not worried about picking up a win, even after his past experiences and Arum’s comments.
“I’m not really [worried about getting a decision],” said Prograis. “To be honest with [Bob Arum] saying that, I don’t really feel like that. I feel like I’ve got to go out there and do what I’ve got to do and that’s it.
“I thought Catterall’s last fight [with Taylor] was closer,” added Prograis. “I think they gave him the last fight because they owed him. The last fight was definitely closer, especially with what Bob Arum was saying, it was a really close fight. It could have gone Taylor’s way, but they owed him. They can’t screw him twice. That’s why I think they probably gave it to him.”
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