“Definitely, must win.” REgis prograis has high hopes for his upcoming match with Jack Catterall
By: Sean Crose
“I feel like me and Jack is the biggest fight you can have in this division without having a title,” former welterweight champion Regris Prograis said in a press release announcing his August 24 bout with Jack Catterall. “We were actually supposed to fight each other a few years ago and it never happened, and now we’re here. I think it’s the best time right now.”
Prograis, who suffered his first loss last December to Devin Haney, clearly knows there’s a lot riding on this Catterall fight. “Definitely, it’s a must-win,” he said. “I have a goal now. Every time I win a belt, I don’t care about it anymore. Now I have another goal. I want to be a three-time world champion and this is the guy I have to get past. Catterall is one of the biggest names in the division right now. 140lbs is very competitive.”
While there is no title at stake, the Catterall fight, which will take place in Manchester, UK, could be viewed by Prograis as a chance for a serious comeback. A good showing outside his native United States would, after all, help people forget about the loss to Haney, or at least put it in the rearview mirror. “Like I said, this is the biggest fight they can do without the belt,” Prograis said. “I’m ready to do it again in front of the crazy fans in the UK.”
Catterall, fresh off a win over Josh Taylor, is on an impressive winning streak. Not only did he beat Taylor, the only man to beat him before, but Catterall also beat Jorge Linares. “I’m very happy,” Catterall said. “That chapter with Josh is now closed. It’s a new chapter. Before the first fight, I saw myself in a great position, number one in the WBO, but I’ve been on the shelf for so long.”
Like Prograis, Catterall knows that a win here could lead to some impressive career starts. “I think we understand that this division is wide open,” Catterall said. “There’s no immediate world title shot, but I don’t want to wait until the end of the year or early next year to get back in the ring, hopefully with a world title fight.”
