Regis Prograis Says Josh Taylor Is Declining: ‘I Don’t Think He Has Much Longer Left To Go’

Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall will finally fight in their grudge match over two years in the making on Saturday at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, United Kingdom.

Many observers believe Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) did more than enough to beat then-undisputed super lightweight champion Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) in their 2022 tilt. 

Although Catterall outlanded Taylor 120 to 73, “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor was awarded a controversial split-decision win.

Following the win, Taylor definitively lost to Teofimo Lopez Jr. in June. 

Former Taylor foe Regis Prograis believes his rival’s best days are behind him. 

“I thought he lost the last fight to Catteral,” Prograis told BoxingScene. 

“It’s looking more and more like Taylor is declining. And he gets hurt a lot, too. He’s just not the same fighter. He doesn’t look like a former undisputed champion. Even if Taylor wins this fight, Caterall is going to hit him with a lot of shots. I don’t think he has that much longer left to go. We’ll see what happens in this fight. I can definitely be wrong, but that’s what it seems like to me.” 

Taylor, 33, has been a pro for nine years and has boxed just 127 rounds in 20 fights. The last year has been an injury-riddled one due to a torn plantar fascia and an eye injury that required a procedure. Both setbacks postponed originally announced bouts for the Catterall rematch.

Should Taylor get past Catterall, another sequel could be in store as he attempts to climb up the contender rankings again. 

Prograis and Taylor squared off in 2019 for a title unification fight during the World Boxing Super Series finals, and Taylor pulled off the win with a majority decision in a fight of the year contender. 

Prograis said he has plans to become a three-time 140-pound champion following his landslide loss to Devin Haney in December. 

He’s still interested in facing Taylor to avenge the only other loss of his career.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.