Big nights await Jack Catterall after outlasting Regis Prograis
Big nights await Jack Catterall after outlasting Regis Prograis
The fairytale is over as Regis considers other forms of violence, while Catterall will stick to the sweet science
After 12 rounds of push and pull, Regis Prograis hinted that it could now be time to step back and let the younger guns of the super-lightweight division take centre stage. And what would the former two-time world champion do to pass his own time, post-retirement? Why, delve into the unicorn, rainbows and carefree world of bareknuckle boxing, of course!
Image Credit: BBC/Matchroom Boxing
This may be the last hurrah for a proud two-time world champion who will never make it to a legacy-enhancing third title. Much of that is down to the punching poise of Jack Catterall, the new king of the Co-op Live Arena.
They say the last thing to go with any fighter is their punch. Prograis retained enough menacing punching power to claw his way back into the main event and even score a round five knockdown by a stabbing southpaw right to the shoulder.
Catterall didn’t complain. Instead, he sucked it up, used his footwork and ring intelligence to steer clear of the marauding Prograis’ wild swings and keep the fight tight. And then, in the final third of the contest, Jack took over.
The sharp, accurate left hand did the damage in round nine. Temporarily separating the New Orleans native from his senses, it helped separate the two fighters on the scorecards as the boon of a 10-7 swing sunk in. Catterall’s coach, Jamie Moore, gently raised the tempo in the corner as Prograis’ own energy levels sapped away across the ring.
Similar to the aftermath of his one-sided pummelling at Devin Haney's pillow fists last December, Prograis stood, head bowed in the ring, and credited his opponent. There were no excuses. He even won over the Co-op crowd by claiming Chorley’s Catterall was the best he’d faced.
High praise, if perhaps heat of the moment commentary. Regis had more than played his part in turning this all-southpaw affair, with the potential to be a pugilistic pumpkin, into a pretty princess.
Sulking off to let Catterall have his moment, Prograis is now 35 years old and suffered loss number three. He’s made a hell of a lot of money, and now it’s time to go off and enjoy it. As for the winner, Catterall hit victory number 30. Wins over first Josh Taylor (arguably his second success, but we’ve not got time to go back down that rabbit hole) and now a credible win over another top name.
Adept at pumping up local crowds, promoter Eddie Hearn glanced at the December 7 clash between IBF super-lightweight champion Liam Paro and challenger Richardson Hitchins in Puerto Rico. That would be easier to make than the second suggestion of WBO champion Teofimo Lopez crossing the pond.
The latter option would be 10 times more fun if it could be put together. However, Lopez is currently embroiled in a contractual dispute with Top Rank. Maybe Turki Alalshikh can build bridges and make that fight a reality.
Jack Catterall has not yet received the Saudi invite. His style has not always been conducive to the rollicking Riyadh rumbles we’ve been served. If Saturday evening is any indication of things to come, he has a home venue and accompanying crowd to accommodate any big fight in the future.
Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis undercard
Campbell Hatton suffered his second career loss, falling once again to Jimmy Joe Flint over 10 rounds. Hardly a chop of the old block when it comes to ability, young Hatton has an abundance of heart and suffered his first taste of the delicate skin issue that so often plagued his esteemed father.
Blood flowing down his cheeks, fighting with increasing separation, Hatton showed heart and hunger to get somewhere in this sport but it’s just not there. What could possibly be next? Rebuild? Go back to the very bottom rung and try again for Area level. Hang up the gloves and call it a failed experiment? The next few steps will be difficult for the ‘Hurricane’. Flint, meanwhile, deserves another crack at the big(ger) time.
Earlier in the evening, Pat McCormack picked up the vacant WBA Inter-Continental welterweight title with a unanimous decision verdict over Williams Andres Herrera. The judges scored it 100-90 across the board to McCormack, who navigated his way through a cut eye to prevail.
Reece Bellotti was supposed to defend his British and Commonwealth super-featherweight titles against Michael Gomez Jr., but the challenger fell ill in the dressing room, and the bout was scrapped.
Junaid Bostan continued his impressive ascent as a professional by blasting away Maico Sommariva in round three of a scheduled eight. Bostan even received an endorsement from Errol Spence Jr on Twitter.
Joe McGrail dropped Lewis Morris early and secured a 79-72 victory on Steve Gray’s scorecard.
William Crolla blasted away Lorenzo Grasso in round one and Liverpool’s Stephen Clarke outpointed Mateusz Pawlowski 60-54 at middleweight.
Emily Whitworth got her career off to a solid start with a four-round points win over Hungary’s Sara Orszagi.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
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